Each year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke, and many of these people die as a result.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted. This can happen due to a blockage in a blood vessel, in which case it's called an ischemic stroke, or the rupture of a blood vessel, known as a hemorrhagic stroke. Both situations deprive brain cells of oxygen, causing damage that can be life-threatening or lead to long-term disability, if the person survives.
