What Are The Different Types Of Stroke?
Stroke is a cerebrovascular accident where the blood supply to a section of the brain is interrupted due to blockage or a ruptured blood vessel. It impairs the neurons often culminating into partial or total brain death. To uphold the detrimental effects of stroke and raise awareness for the same World Stroke Day is observed on 29th October.
There are varied kinds of stroke, each of which is associated with its exclusive treatment. Three main types are discussed below.
- Ischemic stroke:
Precisely 87% of strokes are ischemic. It occurs when a blood clot obstructs normal blood flow to the brain. The clot usually results from atherosclerosis—an affliction caused due to deposition of excess fat on the inner walls of a blood vessel, constricting blood flow.
It is likely that an ischemic stroke is embolic, meaning that the blood clot has travelled to the brain from some other part of the body. Research reveals about 15% of embolic strokes are rooted in atrial fibrillation, where the heartbeat becomes irregular.
- Hemorrhagic stroke:
Sometimes an artery in the brain can burst, and the sudden surge of blood in adjacent tissue can put pressure on the cells, in turn, damaging them. The genesis of hemorrhagic stroke can be traced to high blood pressure and aneurysms—a health condition where the artery develops balloon-like bulges which are essentially on the verge of rupturing. Arteriovenous malformation (abnormally formed blood vessels) is also known to cause this type of stroke.
Hemorrhagic strokes can be either Intracerebralhemorrhage (the most common type resulting from a severed artery) or Subarachnoid haemorrhage (caused due to excessive bleeding in the cerebral area between the brain and the delicate tissues shielding it).
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA):
TIA is usually regarded as a warning or “mini-stroke” in medical science. It is distinguishable from the above two types since blood flow is thwarted only for a few minutes, appraising the condition as temporary. However, it is essential to keep in mind that it also a health emergency and requires immediate medical attention. If left untreated, TIA will be followed by a major stroke within a year (probability 33%). 10% to 15% of the affected suffers from a second stroke within three months. Therefore, recognizing and treating TIA in due time can prevent further mishaps.
A stroke can be lethal. It is imperative to be aware of what it is and how it happens so that we can all take care and reduce our likelihood of ever suffering a stroke.