What Is the Difference Between Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke? (original) (raw)

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a bleeding or clotting event that interferes with blood flow to the brain. An ischemic stroke is when blood vessels to the brain become clogged. A hemorrhagic stroke is when bleeding interferes with the brain's ability to function.

A stroke is a bleeding or clotting event that interferes with blood flow to the brain. An ischemic stroke is when blood vessels to the brain become clogged. A hemorrhagic stroke is when bleeding interferes with the brain's ability to function.

A stroke is a medical condition where there is an interruption in blood flow to the brain. Without the oxygen and nutrients carried by blood cells, the brain starts dying within a few minutes. That can lead to issues like brain damage, disability, or death.

What is ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke?

There are two primary types of strokes: a hemorrhagic stroke and an ischemic stroke. You should contact emergency services right away if you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke. Early treatment can save a life and raise the chances of recovering successfully from the stroke event.

What is an ischemic stroke?

Ischemic strokes happen when the blood vessels responsible for carrying blood to the brain become clogged, which leads to the death of brain tissue. There are two different types of ischemic strokes:

What is a hemorrhagic stroke?

A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding that interferes with the brain’s ability to function. The bleeding can happen within the brain or in the area between the brain and skull. This is the cause of about 20% of all strokes. Hemorrhagic strokes are placed in two categories based on where the bleeding occurs and its cause:

What are the symptoms and signs of ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke?

The symptoms of strokes can vary depending on the type and cause of the stroke.

Symptoms of an ischemic stroke

Both forms of an ischemic stroke can come on without any warning. You can also experience a brief episode of stroke-like symptoms called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) beforehand.

The symptoms you might experience from a thrombotic stroke can be different depending on the affected brain area. They include:

Signs that you may be having an embolic form of an ischemic stroke include {Tampa General Hospital: “Embolic Stroke Symptoms.”}:

Symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke

An intracerebral hemorrhage usually happens when you are awake. The symptoms typically come on without any warning. They can also develop gradually, getting worse over a period of between 30 and 90 minutes. Signs that you might be having an intracerebral hemorrhage include:

A subarachnoid hemorrhage can cause symptoms like:

What are the causes of ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke?

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when the brain loses access to its vital blood supply because of bleeding from a blood vessel. On the other hand, ischemic strokes happen when there is a blockage in one of the blood vessels feeding the brain.

Risk factors that can increase your chances of having a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke include:

How to diagnose ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke

If your doctor suspects that you have had a stroke, they will start by asking about your medical history. They will likely perform a physical exam that includes a neurological check and a heart exam.

They may also perform a computerized tomography (CT) scan or other brain imaging to help the doctor diagnose and categorize your stroke. With an ischemic stroke, the first thing your doctor will likely do is perform a CT scan to look for any bleeding.

If they decide that the cause is a hemorrhagic stroke, they will likely assess how well your blood clots and if any blood-thinning medications you take may have contributed. Other tests the physician may perform include:

If the results show that one of your carotid arteries might be too narrow, they may ask for other tests, like:

SLIDESHOW What Happens After a Stroke? Signs, Symptoms, Types See Slideshow

Treatments of ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke

Your treatment plan will depend on whether you had a hemorrhagic stroke vs. ischemic stroke and the extent of any complications. Your doctors’ initial focus will be on triaging the stroke while it’s occurring.

If you had a hemorrhagic stroke, they would prioritize stopping the bleeding in your brain through surgery. If you had an ischemic stroke, doctors would focus on removing the clot through medication or surgery.

If you undergo surgery, your doctor may recommend you attend rehabilitation to regain functionality in the parts of your body affected by the stroke.

Lifestyle changes that your doctor might recommend to prevent another stroke from happening can include:

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References

SOURCES:

American Stroke Association: "About Stroke."

American Stroke Association: "Ischemic Stroke Treatment."

American Stroke Association: "Preventing Another Stroke."

American Stroke Association: "Stopping the Bleeding in a Hemorrhagic Stroke."

Harvard Health Publishing: "Hemorrhagic Stroke."

John Hopkins Medicine: "Types of Stroke."

Stanford Health Care: "Ischemic stroke."

Stroke: "Contribution of Established Stroke Risk Factors to the Burden of Stroke in Young Adults"

Tampa General Hospital: "Embolic Stroke Symptoms."