Types of Stroke
This is the most common type of stroke, caused by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain.
What is an ischemic stroke?
A stroke in this large artery often causes contralateral weakness and sensory loss, especially in the face and arm.
What is the middle cerebral artery, or MCA?
This artery supplies most of the lateral pons; stroke here may cause facial weakness, hearing loss, and ataxia.
What is the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)?
The “F” in the FAST acronym stands for this symptom.
What is Face drooping?
This is the most common and significant modifiable risk factor for stroke, often called the “silent killer” due to its lack of symptoms until damage occurs.
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
This artery supplies the medial parts of the frontal and parietal lobes; stroke here often causes leg weakness greater than arm weakness.
What is the anterior cerebral artery, or ACA?
A stroke in this artery can cause dizziness, dysphagia, hoarseness, and loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side of the body.
What is the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)?
Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body is called this.
What is hemiparesis or hemiplegia?
This irregular heart rhythm increases stroke risk by allowing blood to pool and form clots in the heart, which may then travel to the brain.
What is atrial fibrillation?
This type of “mini-stroke” involves temporary reduction in blood flow and resolves within 24 hours.
What is a transient ischemic attack, or TIA?
A stroke in this posterior circulation artery can cause visual field deficits, such as contralateral hemianopia.
What is the posterior cerebral artery, or PCA?
This artery supplies the medial medulla; stroke here can cause contralateral hemiparesis, tongue weakness, and loss of proprioception.
What is the anterior spinal artery?
Difficulty in understanding language is known as this impairment.
What is receptive aphasia?
Alongside smoking, this chronic condition, characterized by high blood sugar levels, damages blood vessels and increases stroke risk.
What is diabetes mellitus?
A stroke caused by a clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain.
What is an embolic stroke?
A stroke in this artery can produce "crossed signs," where motor or sensory loss occurs on one side of the face and the opposite side of the body.
What is the vertebrobasilar artery?
The superior cerebellar artery supplies this part of the brain, and stroke here often leads to ipsilateral ataxia and dysmetria.
What is the superior cerebellum?
This visual field loss involves blindness in the same side of the visual field in both eyes, opposite to the side of the brain lesion.
What is contralateral hemianopia?
Lifestyle changes such as regular physical activity, balanced diet, and cholesterol control are examples of this type of stroke prevention focused on reducing risk before any event occurs.
What is primary prevention?
A type of ischemic stroke caused by the gradual narrowing of arteries due to atherosclerosis.
What is a thrombotic stroke?
Small, deep infarcts in penetrating arteries often cause pure motor or pure sensory strokes without cortical symptoms.
What are lacunar strokes, usually due to occlusion of small penetrating arteries?
Occlusion of this artery can cause "locked-in syndrome" due to extensive damage to the ventral pons.
What is the basilar artery?
Sudden, severe headache often signals this type of stroke.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
Stroke risk factors are categorized into these two types: those you can change (like smoking) and those you cannot change (like age or genetics).
What are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors?