Thrombotic stroke
More common than embolic strokes, thrombotic strokes occur when a thrombus (or clot) blocks any of the arteries that furnish blood to the brain. Thrombotic strokes most frequently occur in larger arteries and are often linked to atherosclerosis.
Warnings of a stroke are called transient ischemic attacks (TIA). During a TIA, the blood supply to a part of the brain is stopped for a short period of time. The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of an ischemic stroke (see below) and may last from several minutes to several hours. It differs from a true stroke because the brain tissue as a result of the TIA is not permanently damaged. A person may experience more than one TIA, but having even one TIA increases the chance of an eventual stroke by one-third. Approximately 10 percent of people who have a TIA will have a stroke.
Symptoms of ischemic stroke
According to the AHA, the symptoms or warning signs of ischemic stroke are as follows:
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Numbness on one or both sides of the body.
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Weakness in the arms, legs or face.
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Difficulty with speech, altered comprehension and changes in mental status.
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Problems with vision (in one or both eyes).
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Difficulty with balance, coordination or walking.
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Vertigo (feeling dizzy).
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A sudden severe headache.
It is imperative to seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Hemorrhagic stroke
"Hemorrhage" means a loss of blood through ruptured or unruptured vessel walls. The sudden bursting of any blood vessel within the brain with the subsequent flow of blood into brain tissue is a hemorrhagic stroke. Although ischemic strokes occur more often than hemorrhagic strokes, the effects of a hemorrhagic stroke are much more devastating and more frequently fatal. Approximately one-third of all stroke related deaths are caused by hemorrhagic stroke. There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke -- intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
Intracerebral hemorrhage
During an ICH, a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and blood leaks directly into brain tissue, injuring the brain. ICHs occur more often in men than women, in people 45 years of age and older, and more commonly in African-Americans than Caucasians. High blood pressure (hypertension) greatly contributes to an ICH, accounting for approximately 60 percent of all cases. Excessive alcohol consumption, certain recreational drugs (cocaine and amphetamines) and prescribed anticoagulants (heparin, for example) also can increase the occurrence of ICH.
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