What Can Cause Death From a Stroke?

According to StrokeCenter.org, stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States. Complications of a stroke, such as heart attacks, blood clots and aneurysms, can increase the risk of dying from a stroke.

Stroke

A stroke is caused by an interrupted flow of blood to the brain or by a burst blood vessel in the brain. Blood supplies brain cells with oxygen, without which the brain cells die.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a stroke occur suddenly and may include numbness, confusion, impaired speech, difficulty seeing and walking, dizziness, and headache.

Rates

According to eMedicineHealth.com, 30 percent of people who have a stroke will die from it. According to MayoClinic.com, stroke is more likely to cause death in women than in men.

Blood Clot

According to Medicinenet.com, pulmonary embolism, which is caused by a blood clot blocking the lungs, may cause death following a stroke.

Heart Attack

Stroke is associated with fatal cardiac disorders, including heart attacks and heart failure. A heart attack may occur simultaneously with a stroke or closely after.

Brain Aneurysm

In some cases a stroke may be caused by a brain aneurysm. According to the American Heart Association, a stroke associated with a brain aneurysm will likely cause death.

References

• MayoClinic.com: Stroke
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• StrokeCenter.org: Stroke Statistics