Stroke
A medical emergency in which the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly cut off — usually by a clot, sometimes by a bleed — starving brain cells of oxygen. It causes sudden face drooping, arm weakness or speech trouble, and needs immediate treatment: every minute counts.
What it is
A stroke happens when part of the brain suddenly loses its blood supply, so brain cells begin to die within minutes. Most strokes (ischaemic) are caused by a clot blocking a brain artery — often from furred-up arteries or from a clot travelling from the heart, as in atrial fibrillation. A minority (haemorrhagic) are caused by a burst blood vessel bleeding into the brain, frequently linked to high blood pressure. A related warning event, the transient ischaemic attack (TIA or 'mini-stroke'), causes the same symptoms but recovers within a day — and is a strong signal that a full stroke may follow. The symptoms come on suddenly and depend on the area affected: a drooping face, weakness or numbness on one side, slurred or lost speech, confusion, sudden severe headache, loss of vision, or loss of balance. Time is critical: for a clot-caused stroke, clot-busting drugs or clot removal can save brain tissue but only within a few hours, so recognising it and calling emergency services immediately is what determines outcome. The main risk factors — high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking — are largely treatable, which is why prevention and follow-up matter so much.
Key lab markers
- LDL cholesterol and the lipid panel — a major, treatable risk factor for clot-type stroke.
- HbA1c / glucose — diabetes raises stroke risk and is checked and managed.
- Blood pressure — the single biggest modifiable risk factor (measured, not a lab test).
- Heart rhythm (for atrial fibrillation) — a key clot source, screened for with an ECG.
- CRP — a general inflammation marker sometimes considered in vascular risk.
- Clotting and blood count — assessed acutely, especially before clot-busting treatment.
Symptoms
- Sudden drooping of one side of the face
- Sudden weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, usually on one side
- Sudden slurred speech or difficulty finding or understanding words
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden loss or blurring of vision
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
A stroke is a life-threatening emergency — call emergency services immediately if you or someone else has sudden face drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulty. The 'FAST' test captures this: Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call for help. Do not wait to see if symptoms pass, and do not drive yourself — clot-busting and clot-removal treatments work only within a short window, so every minute of brain saved matters. Even symptoms that fully recover within minutes to hours (a TIA or 'mini-stroke') are an urgent warning that needs same-day medical assessment, because a major stroke can follow. Beyond the emergency, Mediora.AI can help you track and understand the treatable risk factors — cholesterol, blood sugar, and, with your doctor, blood pressure and heart rhythm — that lower future stroke risk; but any acute symptom is an emergency, not something to check labs for.