How Many Types of Stroke Occur In Human Beings?

In the United States, someone suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds. That’s 795,000 strokes per year. A stroke occurs when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death.

There are two main types of stroke. Ischemic strokes, caused by blood clots, and hemorrhagic strokes, caused by uncontrolled bleeding.

When one of these types of stroke occurs, patients experience a loss of function, they may struggle to communicate, and they may lose the ability to continue with their normal life and lifestyle, temporarily or permanently.

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The 2 Types of Stroke

Ischemic Strokes

Up to 87% of strokes are ischemic strokes. This is where a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked. Ischemic strokes are most often caused by atherosclerosis, fatty deposits in our blood vessels. Blood cells can get stuck on these fatty deposits, causing a clot.

If it’s big enough, a clot can block the flow of blood completely. When a clots forms in the brain, it’s called a cerebral thrombosis. When a clot forms elsewhere in the body, breaks loose, and travels to the brain, it’s called a cerebral embolism.

Before an ischemic stroke, some people experience transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or mini-strokes. They occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly blocked. The symptoms of a TIA are the same as the symptoms of a regular stroke, but disappear quickly, often in less than an hour.

Stroke Symptoms Include:

• Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination
• Dizziness

TIAs are early warning signs of a future stroke and should be treated seriously. Anyone who experiences stroke symptoms, even if they seem to resolve quickly, should call the emergency services immediately.

Hemorrhagic Strokes

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel ruptures, causing uncontrolled bleeding. These strokes can be intracerebral (inside the brain) or subarachnoid (the area around the brain). Hemorrhagic strokes are usually caused by aneurysms, which are weak spots in blood vessels that can burst under pressure. They can also be caused by arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), which are malformed blood vessels in the brain.

Around one in 100 people are born with an AVM, and the odds of an AVM rupturing and causing a stroke are about 1% to 3% per year. Aneurysms, on the other hand, can develop in anyone and are usually caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Reducing Your Chances of Stroke

If you have any of these conditions, speak to your doctor about how to lower your stroke risk. Even if you don’t yet have any of these risk factors, embracing a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer. To get and stay healthy:

• Eat a healthy, low-sodium diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day
• Keep your weight in a healthy range
• Avoid excess stress
• Don’t smoke
• Drink moderately, if at all

If everyone followed these steps, up to 80% of all strokes could be avoided.

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