URMC / Encyclopedia / Content Search Encyclopedia How Much Do You Know About Stroke? Strokes are a leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. They are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. Find out more about stroke by taking this quiz. 1. What is another name for a stroke? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted (ischemic stroke) or a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). In either of these cases, brain cells begin to die because blood can't reach them. And they can't get the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. A. Heart attackB. Brain attackC. Myocardial infarctionD. None of the above 2. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel to the brain. You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The other type of stroke is hemorrhagic. It is caused when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and causes bleeding there. A. TrueB. False 3. Which of these is a symptom of stroke? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is The symptoms of stroke occur suddenly and quickly. Numbness or weakness can also occur in the face and on 1 side of the body. A person having a stroke may suddenly have trouble speaking or understanding what someone is saying to them. The person may suddenly have trouble walking and lose their balance;. Sudden dizziness is another symptom. If you are with someone who has any of these symptoms, get medical help right away. A. Sudden confusionB. Sudden weakness in an arm or legC. Sudden severe headache with no causeD. Sudden trouble seeingE. All of the above 4. Which of these lifestyle factors plays the biggest role in increasing the risk for stroke in younger adults? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Without counting any other risk factors, smoking almost doubles a younger adult's risk for ischemic stroke. Heavy smokers are at greater risk than people who don't smoke as much. In older adults, smoking can be a contributing cause. But high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes are stronger risk factors. A. OverweightB. Little or no exerciseC. High blood pressureD. Smoking 5. If a person has an ischemic stroke, how quickly should the person be treated to minimize long-term problems? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Ischemic strokes are treated with a medicine called t-PA. This medicine dissolves blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain. To work as it should, the medicine must be given within 3 hours after stroke symptoms start. Someone who may be having a stroke must be looked at by hospital staff. So they must get to the hospital within 1 hour after the symptoms start. A. Within 30 minutesB. Within 1 hourC. Within 2 hoursD. Within 3 hours 6. Which type of medicine is given to help prevent a stroke? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Clot-preventing (antiplatelet) and blood-thinner (anticoagulant) medicines help prevent a stroke. Antiplatelet medicine prevents the blood from clotting by affecting how the platelets do their job. Reducing the risk for blood clots cuts the risk for ischemic stroke. Aspirin is the most commonly used antiplatelet medicine. Others that work include clopidogrel and ticlopidine. Anticoagulants also make blood less able to clot. Warfarin and heparin are 2 common anticoagulant medicines. Clot-busting (thrombolytic) medicine is given to a person having an ischemic stroke, or within 3 hours after stroke symptoms start. This helps prevent damage. A. Medicine to prevent clots from formingB. Blood-thinner medicineC. Clot-busting medicineD. A and BE. All of the above 7. Which of these may be a long-term problem after a stroke? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Most people who have had a stroke need some form of physical and occupational therapy. They may need help relearning basic skills such as how to walk, sit, stand, or lie down. They may also need help with eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, cooking, and using the toilet. A. Paralysis or weakness on 1 side of the bodyB. Problems with thinking or memoryC. Problems with languageD. Pain in the hands and feetE. All of the above Your score was: Medical Reviewers: Southard, Chris, RN Sudheendra, Deepak, MD Turley, Raymond Kent, BSN, MSN, RN