Stroke Symptoms

Stroke occurs when blood fails to reach the parts of the brain it is supposed to and in doing so, the part of the brain becomes damaged. Stroke is usually a result of a blockage or a break in a blood vessel. The most common form of stroke that occurs is a stroke of the blood vessel known as ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when a blood clot or plaque blocks a blood vessel in or near the brain. Another form of stroke is called carotid artery aneurysm (CAE), which is a condition that occurs when a bulge in the neck arteries results in a build up of cerebral spinal fluid, resulting in a stroke.

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to a break in the blood supply to the region of the brain that is affected. This may result from a thrombus or a cerebral vasculitis. Thrombus is a patch of swollen blood clot, which is put into the space between the brain and the skull. Vasculitis is inflammation of the vasculature, which can cause swelling of the veins. Brain stem cells are destroyed when the flow of blood to them is obstructed. Aneurysms are large, bulging blood vessels in the neck that usually cause stroke because they increase the risk of blockage in the blood supply.

If a person develops either a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, the symptoms are usually not immediately obvious. They may begin with weakness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, paralysis or loss of movement. Some people may not experience any symptoms. Symptoms typically worsen as the days go by and memory and concentration tend to become poorer. As more time passes, the symptoms may become more severe and cause loss of consciousness and death within a few minutes. Stroke is a major concern today and there are many treatment options available to treat it.