Information from Your Family Doctor How to Prevent a Stroke What is a stroke? A stroke happens when there is a problem with the blood supply to a part of the brain. The area of the brain that does not get enough blood becomes damaged. A stroke can happen when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain. A stroke also can happen when the wall of an artery bursts. Depending on which part of the brain has poor blood supply, a stroke can be mild to severe. Here are some problems strokes can cause: • Problems with moving (including paralysis) • Problems with feeling • Loss of vision • Problems with thinking, understanding, or communicating (that is, problems with speaking, reading, or writing) • Changes in emotion or behavior What increases my risk of having a stroke? Strokes can happen in anyone, but they tend to be more common in older men, black people, and Asian people. Although we cannot change our age, gender, or race, we can control the following risk factors for stroke: • Tobacco use...