If you observe any of these signs, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. If necessary measures are taken within the first hours of the symptoms, damage to the brain cells can be reduced. There are many signs of a stroke, but the most important thing to remember is to "Think F.A.S.T." Facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech and time are warning signs of a stroke. TIAs are often warning signs of a future stroke if nothing is done to prevent it. In reality, this "mini-stroke" is a true stroke that has resolved or has improved functionality in the affected body part. With a stroke, the blood flow stays blocked, and the brain has permanent damage.īy definition, a TIA resolves within 24 hours, but most TIA symptoms resolve within a few minutes. After a short time, blood flows again and the symptoms go away. A TIA occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, often by a blood clot. Mini-StrokesĪ transient ischemic attack (TIA), often described as a "mini-stroke," occurs in a person who has stroke-like symptoms for one hour or several hours because of a temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain. An aneurysm is a weak spot on a blood vessel wall. These types of strokes are caused by medical conditions that affect the blood vessels – high blood pressure and cerebral aneurysms.
Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks.
In a thrombotic stroke, blood flow is suddenly impaired from pre-existing blockage to an artery supplying blood to the brain. The blood clot can travel and suddenly block a blood vessel in the brain causing an embolic stroke. An ischemic stroke can occur in two ways – embolic and thrombotic. Blood-clot strokes can occur when a clot travels to your brain and into a blood vessel. Ischemic strokes are strokes that are caused when a blood clot blocks an artery and cuts off blood flow. There are two main types of strokes – ischemic and hemorrhagic. It is important to understand what a stroke is and what the warning signs are in order to prevent a stroke. Someone could be having a conversation with you and all of a sudden they get confused or slur their speech or develop one sided weakness, but your first thought isn't a stroke. You can't feel the blood vessels breaking. It is not immediately obvious when someone is having a stroke. When someone suffers from a heart attack, they typically grab their chest and can feel pain. The effects of the stroke depend on where the stroke is in the brain and how many cells have been damaged.
When the cells die, abilities that are controlled by that area of the brain are altered or lost. In either case, the brain cells begin to die and there is cell damage. Strokes are often associated with heart attacks, but a stroke is more of a "brain attack."Ī stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to the brain. 1 cause of disability, but many people don't even know what a stroke is or what it feels like or looks like. Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the no. You Don't Feel a Stroke, and Have Just Moments to Reverse It