Types of Strokes
Stroke Services
Types of Strokes
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a “minor stroke” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short time. The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. About 15 percent of major strokes are preceded by TIAs, so don’t ignore a TIA. Read more about Transient Ischemic Attack »
There are two major types of stroke: Ischemic & Hemorrhagic
Ischemic Stroke
Around 87% of strokes occur when blood vessels to the brain become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits called plaque, cutting off blood flow to brain cells. A stroke caused by lack of blood reaching part of the brain is called an ischemic stroke. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for ischemic stroke that you can change.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
About 13 percent of strokes happen when a blood vessel ruptures in or near the brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. When a hemorrhagic stroke happens, blood collects in the brain tissue. This is toxic for the brain tissue causing the cells in that area to weaken and die.
There are two major types of Hemorrhagic Strokes: Intracerebral Hemorrhage & Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage: (Most common type of hemorrhagic stroke)
An Intracerebral Hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel bleeds or ruptures into the tissue deep within the brain. It is most often caused by chronically high blood pressure or aging blood vessels. It can also be caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). An AVM is a cluster of abnormally formed blood vessels. Any of these vessels can rupture, also causing bleeding into the brain.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage:
This type of hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an aneurysm (a blood-filled pouch that balloons out from an artery) on or near the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and the skull. It is often caused by high blood pressure. Other causative factors are – cigarette smoking, use of oral contraceptives, excessive alcohol intake and the use of illegal drugs.