From Apoplexy to Brain Attack, a Historical Perspective on Stroke to Date

Abstract

It was during the fourth century BC, when Hippocrates first named the phenomenon of sudden onset of paralysis, loss of consciousness or sudden death: ‘Apoplexy’ as in 'struck down violently'. He was the first to approach scientifically what was then thought to be a ‘stroke of God’s hand’. Hence, many of the basic terms for stroke and carotid disease derive from ancient Greek medical literature [1]. Looking at the evolution of the terminology, one could find the following: