Cerebral vascular accident is commonly known as which condition?

• A. Heart attack
• B. Stroke
• C. Pulmonary embolism
• D. Meningitis

Answer: (B)

A cerebral vascular accident refers to a stroke, which happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Without blood, brain cells in that area are starved of oxygen and die, leading to sudden neurologic deficits. There are two main types: ischemic strokes, caused by a blocked artery, and hemorrhagic strokes, caused by a ruptured blood vessel that bleeds into brain tissue. Symptoms often come on quickly and can include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision changes, dizziness or loss of balance, and a severe headache in hemorrhagic cases. It’s an emergency to seek immediate care to restore blood flow or stop bleeding and minimize brain damage. This is different from a heart attack, which is a myocardial infarction affecting the heart; a pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the lung’s arteries; and meningitis, an infection of the brain’s protective coverings.