The symptoms and signs of a stroke will vary according to the amount of damage caused and the specific function of the brain tissue which has been damaged.

If the area affected controls a leg, then the leg muscles may be paralysed. Sensation or speech may be affected if other areas of the brain are damaged.

Symptoms and signs of a stroke include paralysis or weakness of the arm, leg or face on one side of the body. Sudden difficulty in speaking, loss of speech altogether, difficulty in swallowing, mental confusion and drowsiness. There may be asociated vomiting, convulsions, headache or involuntarily urination or defaecation.

Temporary symptoms and signs similar to a stroke may be associated with transient ischaemic attacks; which are caused by temporary reduction in the blood supply to the brain. This is due to narrowing of certain blood vessels in the neck or to clumps of platelets forming in the blood and causing a blockage in an artery.

Strokes are generally associated with a history of raised blood pressure, hardening and fatty degeneration of the arteries. Occasionally disease of the heart valves can cause a stroke.

The prevention of strokes involves successful treatment of these conditions. In the case of obstruction and narrowing in the carotid arteries in the neck leading to the brain, surgery may be indicated to possibly prevent a stroke occuring.

Partial or complete recovery from a stroke which may take anything from hours to months is possible depending uopn the extent of damage to brain tissue.