What is a stroke?
Are there different types of strokes?
Ischaemic stroke
Haemorrhagic stroke
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Are there different types of strokes?
Ischaemic stroke
Haemorrhagic stroke
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
- ability to perform movements — usually affecting one side of the body;
- speech;
- part of vision;
- co-ordination;
- balance;
- memory; and
- perception.
The warning signs
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm and leg on one side of the body.
- Loss of speech, or difficulty talking.
- Dimness or loss of vision.
- Unexplained dizziness, especially when associated with any of the above signs.
- Unsteadiness or sudden falls.
- Headache (usually severe and of sudden onset).
- Confusion.
A stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA, cerebral vascular accident or brain attack) occurs when a part of the brain is damaged or destroyed because it is deprived of blood.
There are 2 main types of strokes: ischaemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke.
Ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels supplying the brain. This may be due to ‘hardening’ and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel.
One type of ischaemic stroke is a thrombotic stroke. This is caused by a blood clot (thrombus) in one of the arteries of the head or neck, which severely reduces the blood flow. The thrombus may be a result of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaques) in the blood vessels.
Another type of ischaemic stroke is an embolic stroke (or cerebral embolism), caused when a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body (for example, the chambers of the heart) travels through the circulatory system to the brain. The travelling clot is called an embolus.
The most severe type of stroke is a haemorrhagic stroke. It occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, allowing blood to leak and cause damage to an area of the brain. There are 2 types: subarachnoid haemorrhage, which occurs in the space around the brain; and an intracerebral haemorrhage, the more common type, which involves bleeding within the brain tissue itself.
The symptoms of a stroke usually appear suddenly. Initially the person may feel sick, and look pale and very unwell. They may complain of a sudden headache. They may have sudden numbness in their face or limbs, particularly down one side of their body. They may appear confused and have trouble talking or understanding what is being said to them. They may have vision problems, and trouble walking or keeping their balance. Sometimes a seizure (fit) or loss of consciousness occurs.
Depending on what function the damaged part of the brain had, a person may lose one or more of the following functions:
Some strokes are preceded by mini or temporary strokes — transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs). Mini strokes occur when there is a temporary blood clot and part of the brain does not get the supply of blood it needs.
Symptoms occur rapidly and usually last a short time, from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Like a stroke, the symptoms will vary depending on which part of the brain is affected.
While the symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke, they are usually temporary and reversible.
However, mini strokes should not be ignored as people who have had a temporary stroke are much more likely to have a stroke than people of the same age and sex who have not had a temporary stroke.
It is important that you see your doctor immediately when the warning signs of stroke occur. Your doctor will determine whether a stroke, a mini stroke or another medical condition with similar symptoms has occurred, such as a seizure or migraine.
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