Types of Stroke
Ischemic
This is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain.
The blockage can be caused by a blood clot or by build-up of plaque inside wall of the blood vessel that supplies the brain [artery].
Ischemic stroke is the commonest kind of stroke seen in India.
Hemorrhagic
This occurs when an artery in the brain breaks open.
The blood flow to that part of the brain is interrupted, and the bleeding causes damage to brain cells.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
This occurs when a small clot that blocks an artery temporarily.
Symptoms of TIA last from few minutes to usually less than an hour.
It is sometimes called warning stroke or mini-stroke because it is an important warning that a more serious stroke may occur soon.
Strokes can be mild, moderate or severe.
Severity depends on factors such as
- type of stroke,
- location of brain damage,
- extent of brain damage,
- amount of time that the brain did not receive adequate blood flow
- time it took for treatment to be started.