A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or there is sudden bleeding into or around the brain. The symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache with no known cause. There are two forms of stroke: ischemic - blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic - bleeding into or around the brain. Generally there are three treatment stages for stroke: prevention, therapy immediately after the stroke, and post-stroke rehabilitation. Therapies to prevent a first or recurrent stroke are based on treating an individual's underlying risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot causing an ischemic stroke or by stopping the bleeding of a hemorrhagic stroke. Post-stroke rehabilitation helps individuals overcome disabilities that result from stroke damage. Medication or drug therapy is the most common treatment for stroke. The most popular classes of drugs used to prevent or treat stroke are antithrombotics (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) and thrombolytics. Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. A common disability that results from stroke is complete paralysis on one side of the body, called hemiplegia. A related disability that is not as debilitating as paralysis is one-sided weakness or hemiparesis. Stroke may cause problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory. Stroke survivors often have problems understanding or forming speech. A stroke can lead to emotional problems. Stroke patients may have difficulty controlling their emotions or may express inappropriate emotions. Many stroke patients experience depression. Stroke survivors may also have numbness or strange sensations. The pain is often worse in the hands and feet and is made worse by movement and temperature changes, especially cold temperatures.Recurrent stroke is frequent; about 25 percent of people who recover from their first stroke will have another stroke within 5 years. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts stroke research and clinical trials at its laboratories and clinics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Currently, NINDS researchers are studying the mechanisms of stroke risk factors and the process of brain damage that results from stroke. Basic research has also focused on the genetics of stroke and stroke risk factors. Scientists are working to develop new and better ways to help the brain repair itself to restore important functions.  New advances in imaging and rehabilitation have shown that the brain can compensate for function lost as a result of stroke. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&term=((cerebrovascular+accidents[majr]+OR+cerebrovascular+disorders[majr])+AND+stroke[tw])+AND+human[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[ptyp]+OR+review+literature[mh]+OR+practice+guideline[ptyp]+OR+guideline[ptyp]+OR+clinical+trials[mh]+OR+clinical+trial[ptyp]+OR+consumerj[sb])&db=PubMed&orig_db=PubMed&filters=on&pmfilter_EDatLimit=1+Years http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stroke.html 1 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term= /disorders/stroke/pubs_stroke.htm /disorders/stroke/xml_stroke.xml xml_stroke.xml V734 American Stroke Association: A Division of American Heart Association

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas TX 75231-4596 strokeinfo@heart.org http://www.strokeassociation.org 1-888-4STROKE (478-7653) 214-706-5231 Offers a wide array of programs, products, and services, from patient education materials to scientific statements with cutting-edge information for healthcare professionals. V215 Brain Aneurysm Foundation

269 Hanover Street, Building 3

Hanover MA 02339 office@bafound.org http://www.bafound.org 781-826-5556 888-BRAIN02 (272-4602) The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the nation's only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysms. V871 Brain Attack Coalition

31 Center Drive

Room 8A07 Bethesda MD 20892-2540 http://www.stroke-site.org 301-496-5751 301-402-2186 The Brain Attack Coalition is a group of professional, voluntary and governmental entities dedicated to reducing the occurrence, disabilities and death associated with stroke. The goal of the Coalition is to strengthen and promote the relationships among its member organizations in order to help people who have had a stroke or are at risk for a stroke. V216 National Stroke Association

9707 East Easter Lane

Suite B Centennial CO 80112-3747 info@stroke.org http://www.stroke.org 303-649-9299 800-STROKES (787-6537) 303-649-1328 National non-profit organization that offers education, services and community-based activities in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery. Serves the public and professional communities, people at risk, patients and their health care providers, stroke survivors, and their families and caregivers. V13 National Aphasia Association

350 Seventh Avenue

Suite 902 New York NY 10001 naa@aphasia.org http://www.aphasia.org 212-267-2814 800-922-4NAA (4622) 212-267-2812 Promotes the care, welfare, and rehabilitation of people with aphasia through public education and support of research. Offers printed materials, a toll-free information hotline, a newsletter, and a listing of support groups. V715 Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Assocn. (CHASA)

4101 West Green Oaks Blvd., Ste. 305

PMB 149 Arlington TX 76016 info437@chasa.org http://www.chasa.org 817-492-4325 CHASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families affected by pediatric stroke and other causes of hemiplegia. Offers national family retreat, local family events and seminars, online support group, websites, fact sheets, clinical study information, and pediatric stroke awareness campaigns. V785 Hazel K. Goddess Fund for Stroke Research in Women

1217 South Flagler Drive

Suite 302 West Palm Beach FL 33401 anne@thegoddessfund.org http://www.thegoddessfund.org 561-623-0504 Non-profit organization that focuses on critical issues specific to stroke in women, including research, prevention, treatment, education, and advocacy. V865 Heart Rhythm Foundation

1400 K Street, NW

Suite 500 Washington DC 20005 support@heartrhythmfoundation.org http://www.heartrhythmfoundation.org 202-464-3454 202-464-3405 Nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing death and disability due to heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation. V89 BrightFocus Foundation

22512 Gateway Center Drive

Clarksburg MD 20871 info@brightfocus.org http://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/ 1- 800-437-2423 301-258-9454 Non-profit charitable organization dedicated to funding research and educating the public on Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. V927 Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America (FMDSA)

20325 Center Ridge Road Suite 620

Rocky River OH 44116 admin@fmdsa.org http://www.fmdsa.org/ 216-834-2410 888-709-7089 We are a voluntary, not-for-profit organization and programs like these can not succeed without your support. Through volunteerism, membership, financial contributions, and event participation, the FMDSA can fulfill our vision and improve the quality of life of those affected by Fibromuscular Dysplasia.