A stroke happens when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EaUV7EhgQCQ/maxresdefault.jpg)