A stroke is a medical emergency and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Stroke Association. And it doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time.
A stroke, also called a ‘brain attack,’ occurs when a section of the brain is deprived of oxygen due to a blood clot or broken blood vessel. Brain cells die from lack of oxygen. Long-lasting effects are based on what part of the brain is affected and how long the cells are deprived of oxygen. Every stroke is different.
According to the National Stroke Association, there are two types of stroke: Hemorrhagic and Ischemic.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a brain aneurysm (a weak section of an artery that supplies blood to the brain) bursts or leaks into the brain. The excess blood in the brain causes swelling and pressure that results in damaged brain cells and tissue. While less common – only close to 15 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic – hemorrhagic strokes are responsible for about 40 percent of all stroke deaths.
Ischemic stroke
The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke, accounting for approximately 87 percent of all strokes. A blood clot blocks a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain, Deprived of oxygen-rich blood, the affected brain cells die. High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for having an ischemic stroke. Click here to learn more about high blood pressure screenings.
Effects of a stroke
Every stroke is different, and so are the effects. According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, the brain is an extremely complex organ that controls all of the body’s movement and functions. If a stroke occurs:
- Towards the back of the brain: disability involving vision
- Right brain: left side of the body and face affected, including paralysis on left side of body, vision problems, quick, inquisitive behavioral style, and memory loss
- Left brain: right side of the body affected, including paralysis on the right side of the body, speech/language problems, slow/cautious behavioral style, memory loss
- Brain stem: depending on the severity of the injury, can affect both sides of the body leaving someone in a locked-in state (patient unable to speak or move below the neck)
Named one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by the Women’s Choice Award ®, St. Elizabeth is a trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. This award signifies that St. Elizabeth is in the top seven percent of 4,789 U.S. hospitals offering stroke care services.
Click here to learn more about St. Elizabeth’s stroke services.
