A stroke is a brain attack that happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off by either a blockage (an ischaemic stroke) or a bleed (a haemorrhagic stroke). When the blood supply is interrupted, the brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs and the brain cells begin to shut down and die.
A stroke happens when there is something wrong with blood flow. The two major causes of this are thickening of the blood or problems with the arteries, such as:
Strokes are the third highest cause of death in Britain after heart disease and cancer.
About 100,000 people have a first stroke each year in England and Wales. Of these:
Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability in adults.
Although most people affected are over 65, anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies.
Some people are more at risk of stroke than others. Although no-one can change their genes or their age, eating healthily, taking more exercise, not smoking and making sure your blood pressure is normal can all help to prevent stroke.