A stroke occurs when an artery that carries oxygen-rich blood to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. If brain cells don’t get enough oxygen, they die within minutes.
Many ischemic strokes happen without warning. They may occur during sleep or first thing in the morning. Often, they are preceded by one or more “mini-strokes,” known as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs can help predict whether a thrombotic stroke will occur.
Ischemic stroke
An ischemic stroke happens when part of the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. This can be caused by blood clots or narrowed and damaged arteries. It can happen in people of all ages, but the risk increases with age.
If you’re having symptoms of a stroke, you should be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Paramedics are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and they’ll be able to assess how severe your condition is. They’ll take you to a specialist stroke unit, where doctors will carry out diagnostic tests and checks. You may have a CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to produce pictures of your brain. These can help doctors decide if you need emergency treatment, such as a clot-busting drug or mechanical clot removal.
During an ischemic stroke, parts of the brain don’t get enough blood, so they can’t work properly. This can lead to a loss of ability in the areas of your body that those parts control, such as your arms and legs. Some strokes cause a temporary loss of these abilities, while others can have a long-lasting effect. How severe your symptoms are depends on how much of the brain is affected and what area is affected.
There are lots of things that can increase your chances of having an ischemic stroke, including high blood pressure, unhealthy diet, smoking and drinking too much alcohol. But you can change some of these things to reduce your risk.
In a haemorrhagic stroke, the blood vessel that supplies blood to your brain bursts or bleeds inside your skull. This can be because of high blood pressure, or a health condition that makes your arteries more likely to bleed, such as atrial fibrillation, a heart defect (ventricular septal defect or ventricular tachycardia) or a type of medication.
Symptoms of a haemorrhagicstroke include sudden loss of one or more senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste), uncontrollable shaking (ataxia) and difficulty moving and balance. You might also have a headache and nausea. A haemorrhagic stroke can be deadly, so if you have these symptoms, it’s important to call 999 immediately.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in or on the surface of your brain leaks or ruptures, causing bleeding and swelling that cuts off oxygen to part of your brain. This type of stroke accounts for about 13% of all strokes.
Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure, cavernomas (a cluster of enlarged blood vessels often described as looking like raspberries), arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors and venous aneurysms. Blood disorders such as sickle cell disease, hemophilia and clotting disorders can also lead to these types of strokes.
In general, the outlook for hemorrhagic strokes is less favorable than for ischemic strokes. This is because it takes only a small amount of blood to cause severe symptoms, and it can be difficult to stop the bleeding. If you have a hemorrhagic stroke, it may last as long as the bleeding and resulting pressure on your brain continues.
If you have a hemorrhagic strike, it is important to get treatment right away. Your doctor will order tests to check how well your blood clots and what’s causing the stroke. These may include an ultrasound of your head and neck, a CT scan or an MRI of your brain. You’ll also have a blood test to check your red blood cell count, platelet levels and whether you’re taking any medications that affect your body’s ability to clot.
Most of the time, doctors treat hemorrhagic strokes with clot-busting drugs such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or alteplase or with mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot from your bloodstream. They may also prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure and a blood thinner to reduce your chances of having more clots form. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
A TIA, also called a mini-stroke, happens when a blood clot temporarily stops blood flow to an area of the brain. Symptoms usually last just a few minutes, but they’re a warning sign that a full stroke could happen soon. If you have a TIA, you need to get help right away.
A doctor will ask about your symptoms and when they started. They may suggest tests like a CT or MRI scan of your head or a thromboembolic stroke test to see if a clot is the cause. They might also listen to your heart and arteries with a stethoscope. You might hear a noise called bruit, which is caused by abnormal blood flow. They’ll also want to know your family history of stroke and any health problems you have.
You might be sent to a specialist clinic or hospital stroke unit if your GP thinks you’ve had a TIA. They’ll try to find out what caused your TIA and give you treatment and advice to help reduce your risk of another one. They’ll also check your blood pressure and look for other health problems that can raise your risk of a TIA or stroke, such as high cholesterol or diabetes. They might look for a hole in the wall of your heart (patent foramen ovale or PFO), which can allow blood clots to pass through to your brain.
TIAs can be very worrying and it’s hard to tell them apart from a stroke while they’re happening. But you can make a difference to your future health by following any treatment or lifestyle changes recommended by doctors. Things like eating healthy food, quitting smoking and being more active can lower your risk of a TIA or a major stroke.
TIAs are not as common as a stroke but they are more dangerous and can lead to more serious problems. They’re often linked to unhealthy habits and can be a sign that you have underlying health issues that need treating. That’s why it’s so important to follow any treatment advice and visit your GP for regular check-ups, especially if you’re at risk of stroke or have had a family history of it.
Stroke symptoms
When a person is having a stroke, symptoms can be very quick and dramatic. They may include a sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; trouble seeing; and/or difficulty walking or feeling dizzy and unbalanced. If someone shows any of these symptoms, it’s important to act F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, and Time). This helps ensure that they get the right care quickly and reduces their chances of long-lasting problems.
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts, cutting off blood flow to the area and starving the brain of oxygen. The resulting lack of oxygen causes brain cells to die within minutes, and a stroke can cause permanent damage or even death.
The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke. This happens when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to part of the brain, and it’s the most common cause of stroke. It can be caused by many things, including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and heart defects. Some people are at a higher risk because of their age, race, or family history.
Another type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and leaks. The resulting bleeding increases the pressure in the skull and can lead to serious complications. This type of stroke can be caused by problems such as atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, brain tumors, and brain aneurysms.
Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke can include severe headache, vision loss or blurry eyesight, and trouble understanding speech. People who have this type of stroke often feel like they are in a “locked-in” state because they can’t move their arms and legs, and they are unable to speak or understand what others say. In some cases, a person who has this type of stroke can’t even blink or open their mouth.