Understanding the Types of Strokes

Strokes affect a lot of people all over the world. The number of people who have had strokes is increasing all the time. Strokes are not only painful; they can also be dangerous. If you are someone who has had a stroke, here are some things that you need to know.

The three most common types of stroke are: Ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and rheumatic stroke. The third is by far the most serious. It results in permanent damage to the brain and results in the death of the affected brain cells. The three different types of strokes are: frontotemporal, frontal, and basil. The most common cause of stroke is a cut or a lesion in the blood vessel that supplies brain cells.

Symptoms vary for the different types of strokes. With Ischemic stroke, the symptoms will include muscle weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. For those with hemorrhagic stroke, the symptoms will include swelling in the blood vessels, low blood pressure, changes in behavior (such as acting suddenly without warning), uncontrollable shaking, confusion, paralysis, and death caused by the broken blood vessel. These are just some of the symptoms.

Patients with a Frontotemporal stroke suffer from different symptoms than those of the other two types of stroke. They may experience memory loss, impulsiveness, depression, aggressiveness, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, tardive dyskinesia, and possible vision problems. The major difference between these is the fact that patients with ischemic stroke will have a cut in their blood vessels, which could end up shutting down the brain's ability to process messages correctly. Whereas with the hemorrhagic stroke, the blood clot will be in the brain tissue.

When the blood clot doesn't heal or is dislodged, the brain tissue can become irreparably damaged, usually resulting in death from asphyxiation. As mentioned above, there are three main types of stroke, and each type can be divided into different stages of progression. The first stage is where the symptoms appear. The second stage is where the actual stroke occurs, and the third is where recovery takes place.

The risk factors associated with ischemic stroke include age (risk increases with age), gender, ethnicity, family history, and whether someone has suffered from a stroke before. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from this disease. You're also more likely to have a child who has had a stroke, if you have a family history of it. On one side of the body, the condition typically occurs in people who are overweight (they're at higher risk for ischemic strokes) or are diabetic (they have increased risks for Vascular Disease or ischemic strokes). People who smoke, have poor fitness levels, are exposed to constant sunlight, and/or are suffering from a heart or circulatory problems are at greater risk for the condition.

The symptoms of each stroke are generally similar, but some symptoms can be indicative of other conditions or diseases. Migraine headaches that are extremely severe are usually caused by Ischemic Stroke. This symptom can be caused by many different underlying medical conditions. Migraines can also be caused by a weakness in the brain. Sometimes this weakness can lead to a stroke. Other symptoms can be that of a temporary loss of consciousness, or lapsing consciousness, choking, dizziness, depression, ringing in the ears, or trouble talking.

In addition to being a major cause of death worldwide, ischemic strokes are major causes of permanent disability among Americans. A person with a stroke may be unable to perform any of the basic functions of life - such as feeding themselves, bathing, working, walking, or even getting dressed. Because these types of strokes affect the large areas of the brain responsible for coordinating and regulating muscle movement, it can often be difficult for stroke survivors to regain their normal abilities. However, researchers are developing new treatments that are enabling stroke survivors to regain more of the ability to function on a day to day basis. These treatments are helping to keep stroke survivors independent and productive members of society.