Your blood vessels carry blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain and to the rest of the body. A stroke can occur in two ways:

-- when a blood clot travels to the brain. This interrupts the supply of blood and oxygen it carries to the cells in the area.

-- when a blood vessel to the brain ruptures or breaks, resulting in bleeding (or hemorrhaging).

The result in both types of stroke is that brain cells may die, and the parts of the body they control are affected.

Stroke warning signs

The signs and symptoms of a stroke are the same for both men and women. The main warning signs are:

-- WEAKNESS. You may feel sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in your face, arm or leg.

-- TROUBLE SPEAKING. You may temporarily have trouble speaking or understanding what others say.

-- VISION PROBLEMS. You may suddenly lose your vision, especially in one eye. Or you may have double vision.

-- HEADACHE. You may have a sudden severe and unusual headache.

-- DIZZINESS. You may suddenly lose your balance, especially if you are also showing any of the above signs.