Stroke Services
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is one of the the five largest combined stroke units in England and you can find out more about our services.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to your brain. Without blood your brain cells can be damaged or die. This damage can have different effects, depending on where it happens in your brain.
A stroke can affect the way your body works as well as how you think, feel and communicate.
What causes stroke?
As we age, our arteries become harder and narrower and more likely to become blocked. However, certain medical conditions and lifestyle factors can speed up this process and increase your risk of having a stroke.
Different types of stroke
Most strokes are caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain. This is an ischaemic stroke.
However, strokes can also be caused by a bleeding in or around the brain. This is a haemorrhagic stroke.
A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke. It is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms only last for a short amount of time. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary. See our clinic information about TIA.
For further information please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/video/pages/strokeanimation.aspx
Stroke Act F.A.S.T
https://www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/stroke.aspx
NHS Choices
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/
Stroke Association