Stroke, recognising the 3 different types: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
A stroke is a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment. Although life-threatening, early action can reduce brain damage and other complications
Effective emergency treatment can also help prevent disability from stroke.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a life-threatening condition that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain.
It occurs when a blood vessel in our brain ruptures and bleeds.
A blockage can also cause it in the blood supply to the brain.
This rupture or blockage in the blood vessel prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the tissues of the brain.
What are the 3 types of stroke?
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
A TIA or transient ischaemic attack is often a mini-stroke.
It occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked.
It involves a blood clot that generally reverses itself.
The symptoms of mini-stroke are similar to those of a complete stroke.
However, they are temporary and disappear after a few minutes or hours when the blockage moves and blood flow is restored.
If the victim has severe narrowing of the carotid artery, medical professionals may recommend carotid endarterectomy surgery.
Ischaemic stroke
Ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke involving a blockage caused by a clot or plaque in the artery.
When an ischaemic stroke occurs, the arteries that supply blood to the brain narrow or become blocked.
Blood clots severely reduce blood flow to the brain and the rupture of the plaque causes a blockage of the blood vessel.
The symptoms and complications can last longer than a mini-stroke and can cause permanent damage.
Haemorrhagic stroke
A haemorrhagic stroke is usually caused by a burst or leaky blood vessel entering the brain.
The blood from those arteries creates excessive pressure in the skull.
As a result, it swells the brain and damages brain cells and tissue.
What are the common signs and symptoms of stroke?
Premonitory signs of stroke in men and women include:
- Sudden weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg.
- Speech difficulties and difficulty understanding what others are saying.
- Loss of strength, coordination, sensitivity.
- Severe headache, accompanied by dizziness, vomiting or altered consciousness
- Sudden blurred vision, especially in one eye
- Sudden loss of balance, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, nausea, fever, hiccups or difficulty swallowing
- Brief fainting
- Dizziness or sudden falls without apparent cause
When to see a doctor?
It is essential to seek emergency treatment if you notice common signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they come and go or disappear altogether.
Think ‘FAST’ and proceed as follows:
- Face: ask the victim to smile. Then observe if their face droops.
- Arms. Ask the victim to raise both arms and observe if one of the legs is weak or gives way
- Speech. Ask the victim to say a simple sentence. Listen carefully for confusing or strange-sounding words.
- Time. Call Emergency Number immediately because every minute counts.
Health professionals use the acronym FAST to remind people how to recognise the signs of a stroke and what to do.
Call the Emergency Number immediately when you notice stroke symptoms.
Don’t wait to see if the symptoms stop.
The longer it goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability.
So, if you are with someone you suspect is having a stroke, observe the person while you wait for emergency medical personnel.
When the emergency medical team arrives, they need information such as the time the symptoms begin, the medical history of the stroke, whether there is any metal on the victim’s body, any medications or supplements they are currently taking, and whether the victim is suffering from a bleeding disorder.
It is critical that a stroke victim receive rapid assessment and appropriate treatment to minimise injury to brain tissue.
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How to prevent a stroke?
A heart-healthy lifestyle cannot prevent all strokes.
But it can make a radical difference in reducing the risk of stroke.
These changes include the following
- Avoid smoking: smoking can double your risk of stroke. The nicotine in cigarettes increases blood pressure and the carbon monoxide in smoke reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. Breathing second-hand smoke can also increase your chances of a stroke.
- Reduce alcohol consumption – Excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and triglycerides, increasing the risk of stroke. If you have difficulty reducing your intake, contact your doctor for help.
- Healthy diet – Having a healthy eating habit can reduce the risk of stroke. Increase your consumption of foods rich in fibre, fresh fruit and vegetables and lean protein. Avoid foods high in trans fats and saturated fats because they can clog arteries. Cut down on salt and avoid processed foods.
- Physical activity: 30 minutes of regular exercise is enough. You should do enough physical activity to keep you breathing hard, but don’t wheeze. If necessary, talk to your doctor before you start exercising.
Taking these measures will help you be in better shape and prevent stroke, especially if you are elderly or have a family history of heart attack and stroke because your chances of having a stroke are higher.
It is also important to talk to your doctor about how often you should have your cholesterol level, blood pressure and any conditions checked.
They can also help you make these lifestyle changes and offer guidance to prevent future strokes.
A stroke is an emergency that requires prompt treatment.
Several risk factors can happen to a person of any age
So, if you see someone having a stroke, you should call the Emergency Number and seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
The three types of stroke are transient ischaemic attack, ischaemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke.
Ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke involving a blockage caused by a clot or plaque in the artery.
A TIA or transient ischaemic attack is often a mini-stroke.
A haemorrhagic stroke is usually caused by a burst or leaky blood vessel entering the brain.
Symptoms of a stroke may include weakness of the face, legs and arms, difficulty speaking, loss of vision, severe headache, sudden loss of balance, etc.
It is essential to think ‘FAST’ when you notice signs of a stroke.
The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the risk of brain damage and disability.
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