{"id":655,"date":"2022-12-20T08:51:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T08:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/?p=655"},"modified":"2022-12-21T08:52:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T08:52:43","slug":"stroke-types-causes-symptoms-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/stroke-medications\/stroke-types-causes-symptoms-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Stroke? Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Highlights\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>A stroke is sometimes called a \u201cbrain attack.\u201d<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot or another particle blocks blood flow to the brain.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery ruptures or leaks blood in the brain.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate care can reduce your risk of serious health complications.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>You can reduce your risk for stroke by making healthy lifestyle changes and by carefully managing any existing health conditions you might have.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>BidRx helps you to get the lowest price for medications for all your medical conditions.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stroke is a medical emergency that can result in serious health complications, including death. Seeking immediate care can help to improve your health outcomes. Learn the signs of stroke, how to prevent stroke, and how to access treatment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What Is a Stroke?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stroke is sometimes referred to as a \u201cbrain attack\u201d or a cerebrovascular accident. A stroke happens when something blocks blood flow to the brain or when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. This prevents the brain from getting vital oxygen and nutrients, which damages or destroys brain cells.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are different types of strokes. Regardless of the type, a stroke can result in long-term brain damage, disability, or even death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Ischemic Stroke<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by blood clots or other particles blocking the blood vessels to the brain. Sometimes these blockages are caused by fatty deposits (plaque) that have built up in the blood vessels.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Hemorrhagic Stroke<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hemorrhagic strokes are less common than ischemic strokes but are also severe. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery leaks blood or ruptures in the brain. This places pressure on the brain cells and damages them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hemorrhagic strokes are sometimes caused by high blood pressure and aneurysms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Transient Ischemic Attack<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke. It is not considered a major stroke. However, these strokes often serve as a warning of risk for a future major stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During a TIA, blood flow is typically blocked to the brain for less than five minutes. This is usually caused by a blood clot that reverses on its own. A TIA is still a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the beginning stages, you cannot tell whether your symptoms are from a TIA or a major stroke. Recognizing the signs of TIA and treating them appropriately can help to reduce your risk of a major stroke event.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Signs of Stroke<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-659\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2.jpeg-37.jpg\" alt=\"Spot a stroke graphic\" width=\"512\" height=\"410\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. This makes it critical to be able to recognize the various <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/stroke\/signs_symptoms.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signs and symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of stroke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms include sudden:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (typically on one side of the body)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confusion, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding speech<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vision problems or trouble seeing in one or both eyes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe headache with no known cause<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone else suddenly experiences these symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Act F.A.S.T.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke can be more effectively treated when it is recognized and diagnosed within the first three hours of symptoms. Experts encourage everyone to use the acronym F.A.S.T. to quickly respond to a stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you believe someone is having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>F \u2014 Face.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A \u2014 Arms. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>S \u2014 Speech. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>T\u2014Time.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A timely response is critical. Call 911 right away.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also ask if the person is having issues with their balance or vision. Take note of when the symptoms first appeared. Do not take a potential stroke victim to the hospital, and if you are the person affected, do not drive yourself. Instead, call for an ambulance so emergency responders can begin treatment right away. <\/span><b>Fast medical attention is the key to a positive outcome.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2>Stroke Risk Factors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone can have a stroke. However, there are some risk factors that place you at greater risk. Knowing your risk helps you better monitor for and take actions to prevent a stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/stroke\/risk_factors.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk factors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your risk of stroke increases with age.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family history. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a family history of stroke is linked to having a greater risk for stroke.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Personal history of stroke. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a major stroke or a TIA increases your risk for future stroke.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>High cholesterol. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having high cholesterol places you at risk for plaque buildup in the arteries. This increases your risk for stroke.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heart disease. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some heart conditions increase your risk for stroke. Examples include coronary artery disease, heart valve defects, enlarged heart chambers, and heart valve defects.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other certain medical conditions. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many common medical conditions can increase your risk for stroke, such as diabetes and sickle cell disease.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Certain health behaviors. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your lifestyle can increase your risk for having a stroke. For example, not getting enough physical activity or having a diet that is high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can lead to health conditions that increase your risk for stroke. Excessive alcohol use can also increase your risk for stroke.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tobacco use. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tobacco use is linked to many serious health conditions and places you at a greater risk for stroke.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Stroke Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3.jpeg-34.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor showing a head scan\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Your doctor will order tests to identify the root cause of your symptoms and to rule out other conditions. They will conduct imaging tests to help determine what type of stroke you have had and where it happened in your brain. It\u2019s important for these tests to be done as soon as possible to inform your treatment.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may use the following tests to confirm your diagnosis:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computed tomography (CT)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other imaging tests to examine blood vessels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood and heart tests, as needed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Stroke Complications<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stroke can result in serious <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stroke.org\/-\/media\/Stroke-Files\/Lets-Talk-About-Stroke\/Life-After-Stroke\/LTAS_Complications-After-Stroke.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health complications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including long-term disability. Early medical attention can help to reduce your risk of long-term complications, but many people require ongoing care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complications of stroke can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakness or paralysis on one or both sides of the body<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble with thinking, attention, learning, judgment, or memory<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble with speaking or understanding speech<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty controlling or expressing emotions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble with chewing or swallowing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bladder or bowel control problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbness in parts of the body<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a stroke can result in significant changes to your daily life. This can lead to depression and other emotional challenges. A strong support team can help you to overcome these challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Stroke Treatment<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The earlier you receive medical <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/stroke\/treatments.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the better your odds are for a successful outcome. Your treatment will depend on how soon you receive medical attention, the type and severity of the stroke, and your existing health conditions. Treatment may include emergency care, treatment to prevent another stroke, and rehabilitation to treat side effects and complications of stroke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve had an ischemic stroke your treatment might include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Thrombolytic medication. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thrombolytic drugs break up blood clots. Patients who receive care within three hours of symptoms may be eligible to receive a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is a thrombolytic drug. Patients who receive tPA tend to have better recovery outcomes when compared to patients who did not receive tPA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Blood thinners.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your provider may use blood thinners to address blood clots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Surgery.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You may require surgery to remove the blood clot.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve had a hemorrhagic stroke, your treatment may include medication, surgery, or other procedures to stop the bleeding and save brain tissue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common stroke treatments include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Endovascular procedures.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These procedures are used to repair a break or a weak spot in a blood vessel.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Surgery. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A metal clip is sometimes put in place to stop blood loss resulting from a ruptured aneurysm.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Stroke Prevention<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing any chronic health conditions can help to reduce your risk of stroke. This is especially important if you\u2019ve already had a stroke, because having one stroke places you at a much higher risk for having another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy lifestyle factors that help to prevent stroke include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engaging in regular physical activity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating a balanced diet, complete with fresh fruits and vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quitting smoking or not starting in the first place<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing existing health conditions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking all medications as prescribed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk to your doctor about lifestyle and medication options if you\u2019re concerned about your risk for stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Get the Best Treatments at the Lowest Price with BidRx<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many ways you can reduce your risk for stroke. Leading a healthy lifestyle includes carefully managing your existing health conditions. We make it easier to manage your health by offering the best treatments at the lowest prices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sign up for BidRx to create a bid for your prescription, then sit back while pharmacies across the United States bid on it. Once you\u2019ve compared prices, you can have your prescription delivered to your door or pick it up locally, depending on the offer you choose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find your medications on our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/Contents\/medication\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medication page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and place your bid today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights\u00a0\u00a0 A stroke is sometimes called a \u201cbrain attack.\u201d An ischemic stroke occurs when a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":657,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stroke-medications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":661,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions\/661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}