Serious medical condition caused by the loss of blood supply to part of the brain. The two main types of stroke are ischaemic and haemorrhagic. Ischaemic strokes, caused by blockage of blood vessels due to blood clots, occur in around 80% of all cases. Haemorrhagic strokes, more commonly known as cerebral haemorrhages, occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the brain (an intracelebral haemorrhage) or onto the surface of the brain (a subarachnoid haemorrhage). A stroke can cause permanent brain damage or even death very quickly after the onset of symptoms, and the condition is always regarded as a medical emergency. Symptoms The characteristic symptoms of a stroke are muscle weakness and slurred or incomprehensible speech. Muscle weakness usually occurs only on one side of the face, with the mouth or eye dropping on the affected side and the loss of ability to smile. It may also be difficult to raise one or both arms due to weakness or numbing. Speech becomes…