Stroke

A stroke (cerebrovascular accident) occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes clogged by plaque. This plaque may form in another part of the blood stream and travel to the small blood vessels in the brain (cerebral arteries), where it can cause a blockage. This is called a cerebral embolism. When a cerebral artery is blocked, the brain is unable to receive the oxygen it needs to function properly, which can damage and kill brain tissue.