Types of stroke

Stroke occurs when there is a sudden interruption in the blood supply to the brain.

Some brain cells are temporarily starved of oxygen, causing them to swell and stop working properly.  This is why the effects are worse at the beginning and after a few days when the swelling starts to go down improvements can be seen. The sooner someone is treated the better chance they have of making a good recovery.

There are two main types of stroke:

Ischaemic stroke

This happens when a clot blocks an artery (these carry blood to the brain). It may be caused by a:

• blood clot which has formed in a main artery to the brain
• blockage, caused by a blood clot, air bubble or fatty lump, forms in a blood vessel somewhere in the body and is carried in the bloodstream to the brain
• blockage in the tiny blood vessels in the brain

Haemorrhagic stroke

This happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. It may be caused by a:

• blood vessel which bursts inside the brain
• blood vessel which bursts on the surface of the brain and bleeds into the area between the brain and the skull

Causes of a stroke

• high blood pressure
• cigarette smoking
• diabetes mellitus
• irregular heart rhythm
• high cholesterol
• lack of exercise
• unhealthy diet
• previous history of stroke
• previous history of a heart attack or angina
• history of peripheral vascular disease (poor arterial circulation to the legs)
• use of illegal drugs
• traumatic injury to the blood vessels of the neck
• disorders of blood clotting

Stroke occurs without warning and effects 100,000 people in the UK per year and is the leading cause of disability and the fourth largest cause of death in the UK. This figure is set to rise by 44% over the next 20 years.

Find out more on the Stroke Association website