This research guide has been prepared by the staff of the Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS), which is located on the third floor of the Toronto Reference Library in downtown Toronto. CHIS is funded in part by the Government of Ontario.
This brief guide is intended to provide health information. It is a representative, rather than comprehensive, list of organizations and publications on the topic of Stroke. This guide does not imply recommendation of any treatment and should not be substituted for the advice of a health care provider.
Getting started
Definition
- Stroke, brain attack, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- An abnormal condition of the brain that occurs when blood supply to the brain is impaired. The three main causes of stroke are: cerebral embolism, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral hemorrhage. A thrombus, or clot, in a blood vessel of the brain is by far the most common cause of stroke. [Adapted from Miller-Keane Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Allied Health. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2003. pp. 1688-89.]
Searching the Toronto Public Library Catalogue
You can search the Toronto Public Library catalogue at any branch or over the Internet.
Suggested Subjects and Keywords
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cerebrovascular disease – patients
- Cerebrovascular disease – popular works
- Cerebrovascular disease – prevention
Suggested resources
About CHIS
The purpose of the Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) is to provide public access to a wide range of health and medical information, not to give medical advice or interpretation. Information provided by the Consumer Health Information Service does not imply recommendation or endorsement. It is not a substitute for consultation with a health professional.
Updated: March 2008







