>From: Amadeus Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> >Risk of stroke? A stroke is when a small deposition on blood vessels drops >away into the bloodstream, reaches the brain and blocks an artery there - >the related brain cells die. Actually, you've just described thrombotic stroke (and then it's not usually the deposit that breaks off, it's a clot that forms on the plaque that then breaks off and causes the blockage). There is another type, hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when a weak spot in a blood vessel (usually in the brain) bursts. Damage occurs through lack of blood flow to the brain and also increased pressure (due to blood accumulation) on the brain. Prognosis after a hemorrhagic stroke is usually less favourable than after a thrombotic stroke. I'm not at home right now so don't have my references handy, but IIRC, the ratio is something like 75-80% of strokes are thrombotic, most of the balance are hemorrhagic. A small number of strokes are caused by other factors. Irene _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail