Stroke

Accidente cerebrovascular

Also: Derrame cerebral (regional variant)

In 9 languages

LanguageTerm
EnglishStroke
Spanish (Español) Accidente cerebrovascular
Chinese (中文) 中風
Korean (한국어) 뇌졸중
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) Đột quỵ
Filipino (Tagalog) Stroke
Portuguese (Português) Acidente vascular cerebral
Thai (ภาษาไทย) โรคหลอดเลือดสมอง
Japanese (日本語) 脳卒中

What it means

A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, either by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Without blood, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or body, confusion, trouble speaking, vision problems, severe headache, and loss of balance. Remember the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment can limit brain damage and improve recovery outcomes.

How to say it

Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:

I had a stroke three months ago and am currently in speech therapy and physical therapy.

Tuve un accidente cerebrovascular hace tres meses y actualmente estoy en terapia del habla y fisioterapia.

My doctor wants me to take a blood thinner to reduce my risk of having another stroke.

Mi médico quiere que tome un anticoagulante para reducir mi riesgo de tener otro derrame cerebral.

Does my plan cover outpatient rehabilitation services after a stroke?

¿Mi plan cubre servicios de rehabilitación ambulatoria después de un derrame cerebral?

Where you'll see it

chartEOBmedical recordreferralprescription

Related ICD-10-CM category

I63 Cerebral infarction

Related terms

Sources

US Glossary Español A–Z US Codes United States

Last reviewed: September 2026