Stroke

A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both result in parts of the brain not functioning properly.

Fast facts on stroke

• During a stroke, the brain does not receive enough oxygen or nutrients, causing brain cells to die.
• Strokes need to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible to minimize brain damage.
• Treatment depends on the type of stroke.
• The most effective way to prevent strokes is through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and treating underlying conditions that could be a risk factor.

Treatment

As ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes have different causes, both require different forms of treatment.

It is not only important that the type of stroke is diagnosed quickly to reduce the damage done to the brain, but also because a treatment suitable for one type of stroke may be harmful when treating different type.