A stroke occurs when part of the brain loses its blood supply and stops working. This causes the part of the body that the injured brain controls to stop working. A stroke also is called a cerebrovascular accident, CVA, or “brain attack.” The types of strokes include: Ischemic stroke (part of the brain loses blood flow) Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding occurs within the brain) Transient ischemic attack, TIA, or mini-stroke (The stroke symptoms resolve within minutes, but may take up to 24 hours on their own without treatment.
What causes a stroke?
The cause of a stroke depends on the type of stroke. The three main types of stroke are transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. A TIA is caused by a temporary blockage in an artery that leads to the brain. The blockage, typically a blood clot, stops blood from flowing to certain parts of the brain. A TIA typically lasts for a few minutes up to a few hours, and then the blockage moves and blood flow is restored.
Age and other risk factors
Diabetes
Family history
Drug abuse
High blood pressure
Consumption of tobacco
Stroke symptoms:
Depression
Headache
Double vision
Dizziness
Paralysis on face
Trouble speaking or understanding speech
Confusion
Slurring speech
Weakness on one or both side
Numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body.
Types of stroke
- Embolic stroke
- Thrombotic stroke
- Intracerebral stroke
- Subarachnoid stroke
