“What causes paralysis during a stroke?”

Certain parts of the body are controlled by specific areas of the brain. When someone has a stroke, the part of the brain that is affected no longer functions properly. Therefore, whichever part of the body that area of the brain controls does not function properly either.

Paralysis during a stroke is most commonly due to a lack of blood supply to the area of the brain that controls movement. The lack of blood supply is usually due to blockage of a blood vessel caused by a clot in an artery. This so-called "ischemic stroke" causes injury to or death of brain cells that control movement. Depending on how long the blockage persists and how serious the damage determines whether the paralysis is temporary or permanent. Early treatment of a stroke may minimize the damage.