stroke

[mindbullets]

why is a stroke called a stroke?

[mikewall01]

The word stroke has, as one of it's meanings, "sudden action, movement or occurrence". A 'stroke' that you refer to, in the medical sense, is a sudden occurrence of interruption of the blood supply to the brain.

[football]

In the religious sense to be paralysed on one side of the body because of being struck by the rod from God. Maybe the hand of God.

[simon_says]

My mum had one a few months back, and they are devastating things. I now think of them as an horrendous "stroke" of bad luck. If there is a God, he/she is not a very nice person to let this happen to such a wonderful human being!

[bluedolphin]

I've also read about them being referred to as "brain attacks" in the very interesting bestseller about 10 years ago titled "How we Die" .....which is really a facinating read.