An ischemic stroke can occur when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Moreover, hemorrhagic strokes are possible. When blood arteries in the brain burst, this happens.
Then, medical professionals will concentrate on enhancing the body’s clotting mechanism and reducing blood pressure. Surgery can be necessary to remove blood clots and lessen brain stress.
Ischemic Stroke
This kind of stroke happens when a blood clot obstructs an artery that supplies the brain tissue with oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, symptoms start to manifest as brain cells begin to die. The treatment can avoid complications and long-term incapacity in this emergency medical scenario.
Atherosclerosis is often the cause of blood clots that form in the arteries supplying the brain. This occurs when cholesterol plaques build up inside your blood vessels, narrowing them over time. This is the main cause of an ischemic stroke.
Hemorrhagic Strokes can be caused by bleeding in the brain, ruptured aneurysms, or hemorrhage within a vein surrounding the brain. Treatment aims to reduce disability, prevent life-threatening complications, and return people to normal lives.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Understanding that ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are both caused by blood vessels bursting. Hemorrhagic Strokes account for approximately 20 percent of stroke cases.
High blood pressure is often the cause of hemorrhagic attacks. This can lead to a ruptured aneurysm in the brain or a bleeding in a weak area (arteriovenous sclerosis). A direct blow to the head or a traumatic brain injury can also cause them.
People with hemorrhagic strokes usually experience a sudden onset of headache, vomiting, and severe increases in their blood pressure. They can also develop localized neurological symptoms, such as a drooping eyelid or slurred speech, that begin to show in a few minutes.
Symptoms
Different parts of your brain control different abilities, so if one of those areas doesn’t get enough blood, you have a stroke. You may have trouble with speech or movement, drooping one side of your face, or sudden loss of senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch). Some people have a short episode of stroke-like symptoms called a transient ischemic attack or “mini-stroke” that goes away on its own, but it’s often a warning sign that you’re at high risk of having a real stroke soon.
You have a physical exam and lab tests such as blood work that check for health conditions that increase your chance of stroke (like heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes). You also have a brain scan to find out what caused the stroke.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing a stroke is important because the sooner it’s treated, the less permanent damage is done. Call your local emergency services immediately if you or someone you know experiences stroke symptoms.
Blood clots can cause ischemic strokes by preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the brain. These strokes can also be caused by heart problems such as atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat or cerebral vasculopathy.
Another cause of ischemic stroke is fat emboli, clusters of fatty tissue that break free from the bloodstream and travel to the brain. Subarachnoid bleeding can lead to this problem and a build-up of pressure in the skull.
Treatment
Getting medical help when you have signs of a stroke is important. It will improve your chances of preventing permanent damage and having better recovery outcomes.
Medications called thrombolytic drugs can break down existing clots and prevent further clots from forming. But they only work within the first three to four and a half hours after symptoms start. After that, they can increase your risk of bleeding complications.
Another treatment option is a procedure called thrombectomy, which involves removing the existing clot from inside your blood vessel with a catheter. However, this is only an option for certain types of hemorrhagic stroke.