Stroke is a medical condition that arises from an abrupt interruption of blood supply to the brain.
A stroke, known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), happens when there is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain.
Interruptions can harm brain cells, causing that require immediate attention due to their life-threatening effects.
Lack of oxygen and nutrients during interruptions can damage brain cells, making strokes a major medical emergency.
Interruptions can deprive brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, making strokes a medical emergency that demands immediate attention.
There exist two primary categories of strokes.
1) Ischemic:
- Definition: It’s the most common type of stroke, accounting for about 85% of cases. It occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a clot or atherosclerotic plaque, reducing or completely cutting off blood flow to a part of the brain.
- Subtypes: Ischemic can be further categorized as either thrombotic strokes, in which a clot develops in an artery that provides blood to the brain, or embolic strokes, in which a clot migrates from another area of the body and becomes lodged in a cerebral artery.
2) Hemorrhagic:
- Definition: Approximately 15% of all are hemorrhagic strokes, occurring when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, resulting in bleeding within or around the brain.
- Subtypes: Hemorrhagic can be divided into two types: intracerebral hemorrhage, which is bleeding within the brain tissue, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which includes bleeding in the space between the brain and the delicate tissue that covers it.
Causes and Risk Factors:
- Ischemic:
1) Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls.
2) Blood clots can form in blood vessels.
3) Small vessel disease affects tiny blood vessels.
4) Cardioembolic conditions, like atrial fibrillation, can cause blood clots to travel to other parts of the body.
- Hemorrhagic:
1) Hypertension is high blood pressure caused by elevated arterial pressure.
2) Aneurysms are weak or bulging areas in blood vessel walls.
3) Arteriovenous malformations are abnormal connections between arteries and veins.
Symptoms:
1) Sudden loss of feeling or strength in the face, arm, or leg on one side.
2) Sudden confusion, speech difficulties, and trouble understanding.
3) Unexpected vision problems in one or both eyes.
4) Sudden, intense, unbearable headache.
Treatment:
It’s super important to get medical help right away when dealing with a stroke. In an emergency, it gives you medicine to break up clots if it’s an ischemic or they might do surgery to fix any bleeding vessels if it’s a hemorrhagic.
