What is a stroke?

A stroke is defined as damage to the brain resulting from an interruption of its blood supply. This interruption can occur due to a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke), leading to oxygen deprivation in the affected areas of the brain. When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, they can begin to die, which can result in various neurological deficits, such as difficulties with speech, movement, and cognitive functions.

Understanding strokes is crucial as they can lead to life-altering conditions and require urgent medical intervention. Other choices, while related to neurological symptoms or conditions, do not accurately describe a stroke. A viral infection does not specifically denote the interruption of blood supply to the brain, shaking is more indicative of conditions like Parkinson’s disease, and sudden paralysis can be a symptom of a stroke but does not encompass the condition itself fully. Thus, the accurate definition is centered on the disruption of blood flow to the brain.