Disability/Illness Description:
A stroke or a cerebral vascular accident (CVA)occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die.
WARNING SIGNS:
- Difficulty talking to or understanding others
- Weakness or numbness in the face, the arm or the leg, or in one side of the body
- Visual disturbance or temporary blindness in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble swallowing
- Impaired balance or coordination
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Forgetfulness or memory loss
Associations/Groups:
American Stroke Association (ASA) – Free subscription magazine “Stroke Connection”.
Division of American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: 781-373-4500
Toll Free: 888 478-7653
Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) – Support and Information for families of children who have hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and/or pediatric stroke.4101 West Green Oaks Suite 305, PMB 149
Arlington, TX 76016
Contact Form
Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse – Provides free health promotion materials for Massachusetts residents and health and social service providers on various
health topics including Heart Disease & Stroke
Phone: 617-830-5590 (Toll-Free tri-lingual phone line – accessible in English, Spanish or Portuguese)
Email: clearinghouse@hria.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) – Patient and caregiver information, brain basics, and fact sheets.
PO Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Toll Free: 800 352-9424
Massachusetts Stroke Support Groups– Listing of stroke, aneurism, and TBI groups
Stroke Survivor Support Group Meetings – Boston Medical Center
Stroke Support Groups – Spaulding Rehabilitation
Other Information:
The way a person acts, looks and feels immediately following a stroke is no indication of how the person will act, look or feel later. Loss of speech does not mean loss of mind. It means that the part of the brain controlling speech has been damaged by stroke. Inability to speak following stroke does not mean a person is unable to understand. Eyeglasses cannot usually correct visual problems that come with stroke. A person who has had a stroke may tire easily, show anger suddenly, or feel depressed at times. The person may cry or laugh unexpectedly, and may be unable to remember well or to pay attention very long.
Act FAST – FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke. Recognition of stroke and calling 9-1-1 will determine how quickly someone will receive help and treatment. Getting to a hospital rapidly will more likely lead to a better recovery.
Types of Stroke
Information from the Centers for Disease Control. The type of stroke you have affects your treatment and recovery.
The three main types of stroke are:
Fact Sheet last updated on: 3/17/2022
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