Stroke And The Brain

The Brain

The brain controls your senses which include how you think, speak, smell, move and feel. It consists of three parts:

Cerebrum
This is the part that controls thought, speech, the senses and movement.

Cerebellum
This part controls movement and balance.

Brain Stem
The stem controls a variety of functions. These include co-ordinating eye movements, maintaining balance, regulating blood pressure and breathing.

Blood from the heart is carried to the brain by four principal arteries (carotid and vertebral arteries) through the neck.

Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to or within the brain is stopped or interrupted, causing damage to the brain. Whichever part of the brain is damaged, the functions it controls will likewise be affected.

Stroke is also known as "cerebrovascular accident" or CVA.

Causes Of Stroke

There are several causes of stroke and they include:

Cerebral Haemorrhage
Bleeding in the brain. It is the result of burst blood vessels in the brain and is usually caused by high blood pressure and blood vessel abnormalities.

Cerebral Thrombosis
Thrombosis is when blood is blocked in the artery. In this case, blood is prevented from reaching the brain by obstructions that are usually fatty deposits.

Cerebral Embolism
This happens when clots, or small emboli, form on the heart valve or on the inner surface of the heart and travels to the brain, disrupting the flow of blood.