Cerebral infarction is the medical name for what most people call an “ischemic stroke.” It happens when a clot or other blockage shuts off blood flow to part of the brain. The signs can pop up without warning and usually reach their worst within minutes to a few hours. The classic warning is sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body. One side of the face may droop, the arm may drift downward, or the leg may feel heavy or “dead.” Speech often becomes slurred or garbled; some people can’t find the right words or understand simple sentences.... Learn more