Understanding the Three Main Types of Strokes

Your brain is arguably the most complex organ in your body, as it controls everything from how you walk to your likes and dislikes. So even a temporary lack of blood flow to an area of your brain can have severe consequences.

Three Main Types of Strokes

Ischemic Stroke

An ischemic stroke is the most commonly experienced stroke in the United States. Typically, it’s caused by one of two things:

• A blood clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain, effectively cutting off the flow of blood to the brain. Because your brain needs a constant flow of blood, brain cells can begin to die within minutes.
• The narrowing of an artery (stenosis) that carries blood to the brain. Stenosis can be caused by a number of different conditions. However the most common is atherosclerosis, a disease that causes plaque to build up inside your arteries.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood from an artery in your brain begins to bleed. Typically, the cause of the bleed is a burst blood vessel. As the artery bleeds, pressure builds and damages the affected area.

Transient Ischemic Attack

Also known as a “mini stroke,” a transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted. Though they can last for only a few minutes, TIAs can still cause lasting damage to your brain and body.

Signs of a Stroke

Depending on the location and size of a stroke, symptoms may include:

• A sudden and severe headache
• Feeling nauseous or vomiting
• Blurred vision or complete loss of vision
• Feeling dizzy or off balance
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty talking or slurred speech
• Numbness on one side of your body or in your arms
• One side of the face begins to droop

Can You Survive a Stroke?

It is possible to survive a stroke, but you need to react quickly. If you suspect you’re having a stroke, it’s important that you seek medical attention immediately — the sooner you’re treated, the better your odds of survival and recovery are.

One of the main reasons why strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States is because people don’t have access to fast treatment. The USC Arcadia Hospital Stroke Care Center provides the people of LA County with close proximity to highly skilled stroke treatment experts.

For more information on our Stroke Program, contact our team directly at 626-898-8861.