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Article: Stroke
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Aging
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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STROKE
A stroke is defined as a sudden loss of brain function due to a blocked or burst blood vessel. There are two classifications of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes account for approximately 80 percent of all strokes and result from blockage of the blood supply to
the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes account for the remaining 20 percent of all strokes and result from bleeding in the brain. When the bleeding is in the brain itself, it is an intracerebral hemorrhage; if the bleeding occurs between the brain and the skull, it is a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The brain needs a continuous and fresh supply of oxygen and glucose to function. Oxygen and glucose are carried in the ...