Ischemic Stroke Causes and Types

Ischemic Stroke

Definition: Ischemic stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked, resulting in the death of brain tissue due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Causes:

• Thrombosis: Blood clot forms in the brain's arteries, blocking blood flow.
• Embolic stroke: Blood clot forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain, blocking blood flow.
• Atherosclerosis: Plaque buildup in the arteries, leading to blockage.
• Cardioembolism: Clots form in the heart and travel to the brain.

Risk Factors:

• Hypertension: High blood pressure damages blood vessels.
• Atrial fibrillation: Irregular heartbeat increases risk of clot formation.
• High cholesterol: Buildup of plaque in arteries.
• Diabetes: Damage to blood vessels and nerves.
• Smoking: Damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

Symptoms:

• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden severe headache
• Dizziness or loss of balance

Diagnosis:

• Imaging tests: CT or MRI scans to identify blocked arteries and damaged brain tissue.
• Physical examination: Evaluate symptoms and perform neurological tests.

Treatment:

• Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA): Clot-dissolving medication, administered within 3-4.5 hours of stroke onset.
• Endovascular therapy: Minimally invasive procedure to remove clots or blockages.
• Rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to regain lost function.

Prevention:

• Control risk factors: Manage hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, maintain a healthy diet, and engage in regular physical activity.
• Medications: Take medications as prescribed to prevent blood clots and high blood pressure.

Ischemic Stroke

• Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, resulting in brain tissue death due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Causes

• Thrombosis: blood clot forms in the brain's arteries, blocking blood flow.
• Embolic stroke: blood clot forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain, blocking blood flow.
• Atherosclerosis: plaque buildup in the arteries, leading to blockage.
• Cardioembolism: clots form in the heart and travel to the brain.

Risk Factors

• Hypertension: high blood pressure damages blood vessels.
• Atrial fibrillation: irregular heartbeat increases risk of clot formation.
• High cholesterol: buildup of plaque in arteries.
• Diabetes: damage to blood vessels and nerves.
• Smoking: damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

Symptoms

• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg.
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden severe headache.
• Dizziness or loss of balance.

Diagnosis

• Imaging tests: CT or MRI scans identify blocked arteries and damaged brain tissue.
• Physical examination: evaluates symptoms and performs neurological tests.

Treatment

• Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA): clot-dissolving medication, administered within 3-4.5 hours of stroke onset.
• Endovascular therapy: minimally invasive procedure to remove clots or blockages.
• Rehabilitation: physical, occupational, and speech therapy to regain lost function.

Prevention

• Control risk factors: manage hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Lifestyle changes: quit smoking, maintain a healthy diet, and engage in regular physical activity.
• Medications: take medications as prescribed to prevent blood clots and high blood pressure.