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Ongoing care—including heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines—speech, physical, and occupational therapy rehabilitation, and mental health care and support can help you recover from a stroke and may even help prevent another stroke. Know the stroke warning signs and call 9–1–1 for emergency help if you think you are having another stroke.

Taking action to control your risk factors—through staying physically active, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, making heart-healthy eating choices, and managing stress—can help prevent a stroke, or if you’ve already had a stroke, prevent another one.

Doctors diagnose a stroke by reviewing your signs and symptoms, medical history, physical exam, and results from one or more tests: brain computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT or magnetic resonance arteriogram, carotid ultrasound, carotid angiography, electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiography, and blood tests.

The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary. They often develop quickly and may include sudden weakness, paralysis, confusion, trouble speaking, changes in vision, trouble breathing, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and a sudden severe headache. After you’ve had a stroke, you may develop other complications such as blood clots, muscle weakness, problems swallowing, pneumonia, and loss of bladder control.

Age, race, gender, certain medical conditions—high blood pressure, diabetes, brain aneurysms, and heart diseases—smoking, and family history can raise your risk for a stroke.

Buildup of plaque and blood clots causing blockage of an artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain can cause an ischemic stroke, while sudden bleeding from causes such as high blood pressure can result in a hemorrhagic stroke.

The major types of stroke are ischemic (when an artery to the brain becomes blocked) and hemorrhagic (when an artery in the brain leaks blood or breaks open).

Dioxins are mainly byproducts of industrial practices. They are produced through a variety of incineration processes, including improper municipal waste incineration and burning of trash, and can be released into the air during natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes.

A stroke occurs when the flow of oxygen rich blood to a portion of the brain is interrupted, which can cause brain cells to die.

Strategies to help you quit include getting ready to quit, using support, asking for medicine and using it correctly, learning new skills and behaviors, and preparing for withdrawal and relapse.