Stroke is an attack on the brain, affecting the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs so that part of the brain and brain cells die. This can lead to permanent damage and changes in speech, mobility and memory.
Stroke can occur in anyone though certain factors put people more at risk, including having:
People who drink alcohol and those who smoke are also more at risk for stroke at some point in their lives. The condition is also more common in women and in the African American population.
There are two types of stroke:
While less common than strokes caused by a blood clot, hemorrhagic strokes cause death more often than ischemic strokes. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel, either an aneurysm or an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), ruptures and bleeds into the brain. The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, which damages them. Hemorrhagic strokes that are caused by bleeding cannot be treated with tPA (tissue plasminogen activator, a medication that helps break up blood clots) because the medication can cause more bleeding. Instead, this type of stroke is treated with other neurointerventional procedures such as endovascular coiling.
Watch for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else is having a stroke. There can be a range of symptoms from barely noticeable difficulties moving and speaking to paralysis. Do not wait for the symptoms to worsen or improve.
All of the above warning signs may not occur with each stroke. Do not ignore any of the warning signs, even if they go away — take action immediately. The symptoms of stroke may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
If you think you are having a stroke — or if someone you know is having stroke — call 911 immediately.
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear. Think "FAST" and do the following:
While new stroke guidelines indicate a longer treatment window for administering clot-busting medication and for surgical removal of blood clots (thrombectomy), it's still important that you get stroke help as soon as you see signs of stroke.
Many people ignore stroke symptoms that disappear quickly during a “mini stroke” or TIA (transient ischemic attack) because a mini-stroke doesn’t leave any permanent damage. Typically, a mini stroke lasts for one to five minutes, with symptoms that are the same as those of a full-blown stroke. The only difference between a TIA mini stroke and a full-blown stroke is that with the TIA the blockage is temporary:
For stroke and TIA, it’s important to act quickly by calling 911.
If you have symptoms that are concerning you or you recognize certain symptoms in a loved one, you may want to talk with a doctor. The doctor will perform a physical exam and review of your medical history. Additional testing may be ordered, such as:
Stroke is considered treatable as many of the risk factors are related to diet and lifestyle. If you have a stroke, however, your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and what needs to be treated. Hemorrhagic stroke treatment may vary from ischemic stroke treatment. Most treatment approaches include a combination of dietary changes along with medications that break up blood clots. You might also benefit from stroke rehab as well as assistive technologies.
Learn more about our state-of-the-art stroke and neurointervention program at Main Line Health.
Main Line Health offers brain aneurysm clipping to help prevent an aneurysm from life-threatening rupture.
If left untreated, hemorrhagic stroke can result in serious neurological deficits or death. Endovascular Coiling is one of the procedures offering new hope to hemorrhagic stroke patients who had been told previously that they had no further treatment options.
Endovascular coiling, also called coiling or endovascular embolization, is a procedure performed to block blood flow into an aneurysm (a weakened area in the wall of an artery).
There are many ways that the specialists at Main Line Health can treat ischemic strokes.
Inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation treatment and complex stroke treatment. We develop a unique stroke rehab therapy plan that help patients immediately build on their strengths and learn to compensate for limitations.
Thrombectomy is an advanced stroke treatment offered at Bryn Mawr Hospital. It may be performed up to 24 hours after first stroke symptoms.
Main Line Health is one of few community health systems offering state-of-the-art neurointervention care. Through our collaboration with the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, our Neurointervention Program is an accredited thrombectomy-capable stoke center.
Discover how Main Line Health neurosurgeons provide expert care, from routine to complex spinal and nervous system conditions for patients.
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