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ROSWELL, GA 30076
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Stroke - What is it? 
 
 
 
 
A stroke occurs when the blood flow to an area of the brain becomes blocked. When blood cannot flow through a blood vessel in the brain, the brain cells begin to die. Damage to any part of the brain can result in loss of function, such as loss of speech or arm or leg movement. The type of loss depends on which part of the brain was damaged and how severe the stroke was.

 

The two types of stroke are:

  • Ischemic – These strokes account for 80-90 percent of all strokes. An ischemic stroke occurs when fatty deposits called plaque cause a blood vessel in or leading to the brain to become narrowed. A blood clot (thrombus) forms at the site of this narrowing. A blood clot may also form in another part of the body and then travel to the brain where it lodges in a blood vessel. This type of clot is called an embolus.  The image below provides an illustration of a narrowed blood vessel due to a blood clot.
 
 
  • Hemorrhagic – Approximately 10-20 percent of all strokes are hemorrhagic. This occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds. Causes for this type of stroke include high blood pressure or a weakened blood vessel (aneurysm).
 
 
 
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