a stroke is caused when the flow of blood to the brain is stopped by:
- a blocked blood vessel (ischaemic stroke); or
- a burst blood vessel causing a bleed (haemorrhage) into the brain.
as a result, brain cells do not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to work normally. some brain cells become damaged and others die. it is not always possible to know what caused a stroke.
every stroke is different. the symptoms depend on the area of the brain that is affected and how much damage there is.