 The brain is arguably the most complex of all the organs in your body. These three pounds of tissue compose the major nerve center of the body, which coordinates all of our bodily functions, including behavior, thought and emotions. Because your brain is a very hard-working organ, it requires constant supplies of oxygen and nutrients from the blood to function effectively. The heart pumps blood throughout the cerebral arteries ("cerebral" means "related to the brain"), delivering blood to the brain. Any significant interruption to this supply of nutrients and oxygen will start killing brain cells. Damage to brain cells occurs almost immediately upon cessation or even significant restriction of blood flow to the brain. Minor damage to any part of the brain can have a serious adverse effect on the rest of the body. Significant damage to the brain can even result in death.
One relatively common cause of brain damage and death is referred to as a stroke. A stroke is similar to a heart attack, only in this case, blood flow to brain, rather than the heart, is blocked. The term "stroke" comes from the once popular idea that someone had received a "stroke of God's hand" and was therefore damaged. Strokes are also called cerebrovascular accidents (CVA's; "cerebrum" is Latin for brain, while "vascular" refers to the blood vessels) or "brain attacks" to emphasize the need to call 911 and get immediate medical attention when they occur.
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