What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds, or when there’s a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The rupture or blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain’s tissues.

Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue become damaged and begin to die within minutes.

There are three primary types of strokes:

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) involves a blood clot that typically reverses on its own.
• Ischemic stroke involves a blockage caused by either a clot or plaque in the artery. The symptoms and complications of ischemic stroke can last longer than those of a TIA, or may become permanent.
• Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by either a burst or leaking blood vessel that seeps into the brain.

Stroke symptoms

The loss of blood flow to the brain damages tissues within the brain. Symptoms of a stroke show up in the body parts controlled by the damaged areas of the brain.

The sooner a person having a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it’s helpful to know the signs of a stroke so you can act quickly. Stroke symptoms can include:

• Paralysis
• Numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking or understanding others
• Slurred speech
• Confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
• Sudden behavioral changes, especially increased agitation
• Vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
• Trouble walking
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Dizziness
• Severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause
• Seizures
• Nausea or vomiting

A stroke requires immediate medical attention. If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, local emergency services right away. Prompt treatment is key to preventing the following outcomes:

• Brain damage
• Long-term disability
• Death

It’s better to be overly cautious when dealing with a stroke, so don’t be afraid to get emergency medical help if you think you recognize the signs of a stroke.

What causes a stroke?

Stroke falls into 2 main categories -

• Ischemic Stroke
• Hemorrhagic Stroke

Ischemic Stroke can be further classified into -

• Cardioembolic - Thrombus originating in the heart
• Artery-to-artery embolic - Thrombus originating in one of the large arteries supplying the brain
• Small vessel disease - Stroke which happens to due atherosclerotic changes occurring in the small vessel of the brain due to long standing diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension

- 80 % of the times it is an ischemic stroke

- 20 % of times it can be a hemorrhagic stroke

Diagnosis of stroke

Your doctor will ask you or a family member about your symptoms and what you were doing when they arose. They’ll take your medical history to find out your stroke risk factors. They’ll also:

• Ask what medications you take
• Check your blood pressure
• Listen to your heart

You’ll also have a physical exam, during which your doctor will evaluate you for:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Weakness
• Numbness in your arms, face, or legs
• Signs of confusion
• Vision issues

Your doctor will then do certain tests to help confirm a stroke diagnosis. These tests can help them determine whether you had a stroke and, if so:

• What may have caused it
• What part of the brain is affected
• Whether you have bleeding in the brain

Stroke Treatment

Effective treatment of stroke can prevent long-term disability and save lives.

The specific treatments recommended depend on whether a stroke is caused by:

• A blood clot blocking the flow of blood to the brain (ischaemic stroke)
• Bleeding in or around the brain (haemorrhagic stroke)

Treatment usually involves taking 1 or more different medicines, although some people may also need surgery.