Stroke

When a stroke happens, we’re here for you with rapid treatment and comprehensive follow-up care.

Strokes happen in different ways and for different reasons. Find out more about the types of stroke, what causes them and why getting care fast is essential.

What Is Stroke?

A stroke is a life-threatening condition caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel is blocked or ruptures. A stroke can cause lasting damage and changes in brain function. Rapid treatment is essential to minimize this damage.

Types of Stroke

There are three types of stroke:

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic strokes account for about nine in 10 strokes. They occur when a blood clot closes off an artery, preventing blood from reaching the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes occur less often but are as serious as ischemic strokes. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel bursts, spilling blood and disrupting blood flow to brain tissues. Bleeding can occur:

Between the brain and tissues that surround it (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
Inside the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage)

Transient Ischemic Attack

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a short-term blockage in a blood vessel. It typically causes stroke-like symptoms that last for a few minutes.

Also called a “mini-stroke,” a TIA can be a warning sign of a full-scale stroke and requires an emergency evaluation. Go to the emergency room even if your symptoms go away on their own.

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Stroke Signs: Getting Care Fast Matters

When a stroke occurs, every second lost means a loss of brain function. Use the BE FAST model to recognize the signs of a stroke and take quick action:

Balance: Is the person experiencing a loss of balance or coordination?
Eyesight: Does the person have blurred or double vision?
Face: Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?
Arm: When raised, does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Is the person difficult to understand or are they unable to speak?
Time: CALL 911 immediately

Remember BE FAST – With a Stroke Every Second Counts

What Causes Stroke?

The leading causes of stroke are cardiovascular diseases that affect your heart and blood vessels.

Causes of Ischemic Stroke

The main cause of ischemic stroke is atherosclerosis, the accumulation of plaque inside your arteries. Over time, the plaque reduces or blocks blood flow. Atherosclerosis can develop in any artery in your brain, including the:

Carotid arteries that carry blood from your neck to your brain (carotid stenosis)
Smaller arteries (intracranial atherosclerotic disease)

Blood clots can also travel from somewhere else, usually your heart or the large arteries in your chest. When they reach your brain, they get stuck and block blood flow (cerebral embolism).

Blood clots may be pieces of plaque that break off into your bloodstream. They can also form when blood pools in the heart due to an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), such as atrial fibrillation.

Causes of Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes are usually caused by problems in the blood vessels that make them weak and more likely to rupture, including:

Risk Factors of Stroke

Some health conditions increase your risk of stroke, such as:

Previous stroke or TIA
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Sickle cell disease

Other factors can also increase your chance of having a stroke. You can’t always control these factors, but leading a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk:

Black race and Hispanic ethnicity
Drinking too much alcohol
Family history of stroke
Female sex
Not getting enough exercise
Older age
Obesity
Unhealthy diet
Tobacco use

Diagnosing a Stroke

At Memorial’s stroke centers, physicians act quickly to determine the type of stroke and which part of the brain is affected. This evaluation includes a review of your symptoms and medical history and a neurological exam to assess brain function.

Your doctor will ask when symptoms started, which helps guide treatment. They may also order basic blood tests and other tests to see what’s happening in your brain, such as:

Brain imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan, to view the blood vessels in your head and neck. Read more about neuroradiology.
Cerebral angiography to look at how blood is moving through your brain’s blood vessels. In this minimally invasive test, your doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an artery in your groin or wrist. They move the catheter through your arteries to your neck, releasing a contrast dye. As the dye flows into the blood vessels in your head, your doctor takes X-rays to check for signs of stroke.

Leaders in Stroke Care

Receiving care quickly is the primary factor in how well patients do after a stroke. Memorial Healthcare System hospitals include two designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers (the highest designation) and two Primary Stroke Centers (the second highest level). Our stroke treatment outcomes at these centers exceed national benchmarks for timeliness of care.

Learn more about our approach to stroke treatment and what sets our stroke centers apart.