In the United Kingdom over 110 000 people have a stroke for the first time each year. The risk of a stroke increases with age & is higher in men than in women. A stroke occurs when part of the brain is damaged as a result of a lack of blood supply or the rupture of a blood vessel. Some strokes cause catastrophic collapse with a sudden loss of consciousness. Many people confuse a stroke with a heart attack. There are similarities in that heart attacks are caused by blood vessels becoming blocked in the heart & strokes result from blood supply problems in the brain.