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A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Within minutes of a stroke, brain cells begin to die, which can cause long-term damage.
There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic: An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a vital blood vessel to the brain. The most common causes of an ischemic stroke are the gradual buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels of the head and neck (thrombosis) and blood clots in the heart (embolism).
- Hemorrhagic: Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. When the artery bleeds into the brain, the pressure inside the skull increases, causing swelling of brain tissue and damage to brain cells. When blood vessels in the brain burst, it’s called an intracerebral hemorrhage; when the bleeding occurs in the space between the brain and the membranes that cover the brain, it is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Stroke-like symptoms can also occur when blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time, called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). These symptoms may last less than 24 hours before disappearing. These seizures, or “mini strokes,” do not cause permanent brain damage, but are they a warning that a stroke? Could happen in the future.
Know the Symptoms of a Stroke?
The stroke? It is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, but knowing the warning signs of a stroke can lead to more precise care, resulting in a faster recovery. There are over 7 million stroke survivors in the US today.
When a stroke occurs, an individual may experience sudden difficulties with common functions. The most common symptoms of a stroke include:
- Confusion or difficulty understanding
- difficulty speaking
- Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Problems with movement or walking
- seizures
- Severe headaches with no other known cause
- Vision problems, such as blindness or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Other less common signs of a stroke are:
- Sudden nausea, vomiting, or fever not caused by a viral illness
- Brief loss or change of consciousness, such as blackouts, confusion, seizures, or coma
