India, Oct. 30 -- A stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute without medical help can reduce a person's chances of survival and recovery. Recognizing the warning signs and getting to a hospital quickly can help minimize brain damage, reduce disability, and improve long-term outcomes. Yet people lose valuable time by assuming sudden weakness or difficulty speaking is temporary, or by waiting for symptoms to stop. Without adequate oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to malfunction and die. The longer the brain is deprived of blood flow, the greater the risk of permanent damage.

There are two main types of stroke: ischaemic and hemorrhagic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in or around the ...