"A stroke is like a "brain attack." In a heart attack, not enough blood gets to the heart. In a stroke, not enough blood gets to the brain. Parts of the brain can die during a stroke if blood is cut off for more than a couple of hours. If the blood is cut off for a shorter time, stroke symptoms like weakness, numbness, or trouble speaking may clear up within a few hours. This is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), rather than a stroke. "