Stroke

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a brief introduction to the three types of strokes: ischemic, the most common; hemorrhagic; and transient ischemic attacks, also known as “mini-strokes.”

MedlinePlus is run by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Find a quick overview of the different aspects of stroke, including the definition, diagnosis, treatment, potential complications, and long-term outlook. Strokes can also be caused by head injuries, abusing alcohol, and using cocaine.

The National Stroke Association has information sheets about stroke in specific groups, such as women, African Americans, and children. Kids and even babies can have strokes, though it’s relatively rare. 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has an eight-minute video called “Know Stroke.” It describes the symptoms and risk factors, and emphasizes the importance of getting immediate treatment when it looks like someone is having one.

The National Stroke Association describes a simple test anyone can use to quickly determine whether someone is having a stroke. The test goes by the acronym F.A.S.T., and involves asking someone to smile, raise his arms, and repeat a simple sentence.

The American Stroke Association has a brief explanation of the different tests, such as a CT scan or angiography, which are used to diagnose a stroke. Learn how doctors use the tests to examine electrical activity and blood flow in the brain.

The Internet Stroke Center at Washington University has an in-depth explanation of how strokes are diagnosed. This multi-page guide describes what could happen at the hospital, step by step. Read descriptions of the various tests that are used to determine if a stroke has occurred, and see pictures of CT scans, MRIs, and cerebral angiographies.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network has a page that describes the different treatments, emergency and long term, available for strokes. Learn how in an emergency, doctors use a type of drug called “clot-busters” to get the blood flowing throughout the brain and prevent further damage. Depending on the type of stroke and damage sustained, surgery could be required.

The National Stroke Association describes how to reduce risk through lifestyle changes and medical management. See the “Risk Factors” box on the upper right-hand side of the page for links to more in-depth discussions of controllable, uncontrollable, and secondary risk factors. Also check out the “Stroke Risk Scorecard,” to get an idea of where you stand. Remember, having a low risk of stroke isn’t a guarantee you won’t have one.

Healthology.com , part of the iVillage network, has a five-minute video on factors that increase a person’s risk of stroke, including age, smoking, and chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Watch the video to see a doctor and nurse from Long Island Jewish Medical Center as they describe the steps you can take to reduce the risk.

ClinicalTrials.gov is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and has a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for stroke. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor, and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guide.

The American Stroke Association publishes the bi-monthly Stroke Connection Magazine. Subscribe to receive the magazine for free for one year. After the first year, there is an unspecified subscription cost.

ScienceDaily publishes news articles in science, technology and medicine. Don’t miss the site’s page of stroke news for updated headlines every day.

Topix is a news aggregator that has a page of stroke-related headlines gathered from news outlets across the Web. Look for links to articles on the results of current research and treatment efforts, among other topics.

PubMed Central , a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, is a repository of biomedical and life sciences journal articles. Search for articles by topic, journal title, or author using the search tool at the top of the page. Once you’ve searched a topic, use a tab under the display options to read articles that are free to access. Prefer to have new articles sent to your e-mail box? Create customized updates based on your searches and have them sent directly to you.

The National Stroke Association has a journal, newsletter, and magazine available for subscription. Take a look at Stroke Clinical Updates, a free newsletter with archived editions available on the site, though it is geared toward professionals.