Stroke used to be something we associated with our grandparents. Today, I’m seeing it in patients in their 30s and 40s. In clinics, stroke is becoming increasingly common, and one of the biggest problems is that many people don’t understand what it actually is or what puts them at risk until it’s too late. Let’s break it down, plain and simple. What Exactly Is a Stroke? A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes. And because the brain controls everything movement, speech, breathing, memory; the damage can be life-altering or fatal. There are two main types: Ischaemic Stroke – This is the most common type, about 80% of cases. It occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying the brain. Think of it like a traffic jam in your blood vessel. Haemorrhagic Stroke – This happens when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or leaks. Instead of blood reaching the brain, it spills into the surr...