Approximately every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. A stroke can happen when the following occurs:
A blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. This is called an ischemic stroke.
A blood vessel breaks open, causing blood to leak into the brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get blood and oxygen. Brain cells can die, causing permanent damage.
ISCHEMIC STROKE
Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. Usually this type of stroke results from clogged arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. (See: Stroke secondary to atherosclerosis) Fat, cholesterol, and other substances collect on the wall of the arteries, forming a sticky substance called plaque. Over time, the plaque builds up. This often makes it hard for blood to flow properly, which can cause the blood to clot. There are two types of clots:
A clot that stays in place in the brain is called a cerebral thrombus.
Hemorrhagic stroke(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hemorrhagic stroke involves bleeding within the brain, which damages nearby brain tissue.Brain bleeding; Brain hemorrhage; Stroke- hemorrhagic; Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease.Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts inside the bra...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/16/2008
Stroke secondary to carotid dissection (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A stroke secondary to carotid dissection is a type of stroke due to a tear in the lining of a major neck artery, called the carotid artery.A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. When a tear in the lining of the c...Reviewer: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (August 2006)Date: 02/20/2007
Stroke secondary to atherosclerosis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stroke secondary to atherosclerosis refers to loss of neurologic functions(brain attack), which occurs because of atherosclerosis.Stroke secondary to atherosclerosis affects about 2 out of 1,000 people, or approximately 50% of all those who h...Reviewer: Updated by: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (April 2006)Date: 02/20/2007
Thrombolytic therapy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thrombolytic therapy is the use of drugs to break up or dissolve blood clots, which are the main cause of both heart attacks and stroke.Tissue plasminogen activator; TPA; Alteplase; Reteplase; Tenecteplase; Activase thrombolytic agent; Clot-dissol...Reviewer: David Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/19/2008
Stroke related to cocaine use (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stroke related to cocaine use is a blockage in the blood supply to the brain and loss of brain function in someone who has used the drug, cocaine.Cocaine is a product of the coca plant and an illegal recreational drug. It is a strong stimulant tha...Reviewer: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/13/2008
Transient ischemic attack (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A transient ischemic attack(TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke-like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours.A TIA is often considered a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not ...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/16/2008
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