Stroke Types

"A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. This results in part of the brain not functioning properly. The main types of stroke are ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attack, a warning or “mini-stroke.”\n\nMost strokes (85%) are ischemic strokes. If you have an ischemic stroke, the artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes blocked. Blood clots often cause the blockages that lead to ischemic strokes.\n\nA hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, which damages them. High blood pressure and aneurysms — balloon-like bulges in an artery that can stretch and burst — are examples of conditions that can cause a hemorrhagic stroke. There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes: intracerebral hemorrhage, which occurs when an artery in the brain bursts and floods the surrounding tissue with blood, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which refers to bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover it.\n\nA transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sometimes called a “mini-stroke.” It is different from the major types of stroke because blood flow to the brain is blocked for only a short time — usually no more than 5 minutes. A TIA is a warning sign of a future stroke and is a medical emergency, just like a major stroke. Strokes and TIAs require emergency care. Call 9-1-1 right away if you feel signs of a stroke or see symptoms in someone around you. There is no way to know in the beginning whether symptoms are from a TIA or from a major type of stroke. Like ischemic strokes, blood clots often cause TIAs. More than a third of people who have a TIA end up having a major stroke within 1 year if they don’t receive treatment, and 10%-15% will have a major stroke within 3 months of a TIA. A health care team can usually find the cause and take steps to prevent a major stroke. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce the risk of a major stroke."