disruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, leading to brain cell damage and possibly death. While stroke can be caused by a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain (ischemic stroke), it can also be caused by bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).
Although the cardiovascular system (which includes the heart and blood vessels) plays a role in stroke, stroke is primarily a neurological condition because it affects the brain. Neurologists are the medical specialists who are trained to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain and nervous system, including stroke. They have expertise in managing the acute and long-term effects of stroke, including issues related to cognition, movement, speech, and other neurological functions.
While cardiology specialists may be involved in the management of stroke in some cases, such as when stroke is caused by a cardiac source of emboli, the primary management of stroke falls within the domain of neurology.
