There are many causes of a stroke, with the most common being a blockage in one of the arteries supplying an area of the brain.
Symptoms
A stroke may lead to a number of symptoms. The most common symptoms of a stroke are one sided weakness, change in speech, facial droop and sudden loss of vision .
Residual stroke
Symptoms experienced during a stroke may persist following treatment. The brain can usually compensate for some or all of the damage it had with the stroke, meaning that the ongoing symptoms are not as severe. When the patient becomes unwell for another reason, eg an infection, the brain does not have the capacity to compensate. This is why some people experience worsening of their previous stroke symptoms when they are unwell. It is important to note that it will only every be worsening in severity of the exact symptoms initially experienced; if the patient experiences new symptoms, they may be experiencing another stroke.