A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted.
This event results in brain damage.
Functions which are normally controlled by the damaged brain become affected suddenly and will not function properly.
As stroke is a potentially life-threatening disease, it is important to seek early treatment.
No Two Strokes are the Same There are two types of stroke: Blockage (ischemic/infarct) and bleeding (haemorrhagic).
Brain Stroke
How does a blood clot travel to the brain and cause stroke to happen?
A blood clot that travels from the heart or from an area of atherosclerosis through the artery to the brain is called an embolus. When an embolus reaches a part of the brain artery that it is not able to pass through, it will block the artery and stroke occurs. Atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) can cause blood clots to be formed within the heart, which can then embolise.
Bleeding (Haemorrhagic)
Another form of stroke is haemorrhagic (bleeding). A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery bursts within the brain, causing an intracerebral haemorrhage. Less commonly, it bursts into the space around the brain, causing a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The main causes are uncontrolled or severe hypertension (high blood pressure), structural problems with the blood vessels of the brain like aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation (AVM).