JP Stroke Foundation

When you hear the word stroke, you may think of tennis, swimming or maybe even golf. One thing all these strokes have in common in their respective sport is the act of “striking,” a fast and forcible movement. Now while sports are enjoyable, let’s move on to the kind of stroke that I am referring to, which is the one our bodies experience, the disease kind. Fittingly, this kind of stroke attacks our body like the kind in sports, fast and forcibly. Strokes are very common; in fact, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and every four minutes, someone in the U.S. dies of a stroke [1]. But what really defines the stroke that happens in our bodies, and how does it happen?

Well, humans need oxygen and more specifically, so do all the parts of our body. This oxygen is provided to all parts of our body, from head to toe, by our blood. If our blood is not able to reach a certain part of our body, that part of our body receives no oxygen, leading to damaged cells. In the case of a stroke, there is an interruption or failure of blood flow to the brain and thus the brain’s oxygen supply. This, as we now know, leads to damaged brain cells [2]. The effects of a stroke vary and depend on not only how much brain cell damage has occurred but also on the type of stroke experienced [3]. That is right… There are multiple types.

What are the types, you ask? The three main types of strokes are ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes, and transient ischemic attacks (T.I.A.), with the most common type being ischemic, making up 87% of all strokes [4]. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain or neck are blocked [5]. In the same way straws transport fluids, blood vessels transport blood in our body. When our straws bend or are blocked, fluid can no longer pass through, and that’s exactly what happens to the blood when our vessels become blocked. On the other hand, hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain, specifically when a blood vessel ruptures, causing an opening for fluid to pass through [6]. Too much blood that leaks into the brain leads to a buildup in pressure which is also damaging to the brain cells [7]. You can think of a water balloon being filled up with too much water, and it eventually bursting due to the pressure. Finally, we have the transient ischemic attack, which is also referred to as a mini-stroke. This kind of stroke is unlike the other types of strokes because the blockage of blood flow to the brain is only blocked for a short duration, usually less than five minutes [8]. However, do not let the name fool you because this mini-stroke is still a cause for concern, as it usually acts as a warning for a future stroke and is still considered a medical emergency [9].

Strokes come in many types and can present differently in different people; however, one thing that is for sure is that their victims are impacted disproportionately. While strokes are a leading cause of death in Americans, African Americans experience almost twice as high a risk for having a stroke for the first time than non-Hispanic white Americans [10]. Stroke risk is also dependent on age, with risks increasing with age. However, don’t count yourself lucky because they can occur at any age [11].

Now that we know what a stroke is and how they occur, let’s delve into the signs of a stroke and understand when to act. In both men and women, strokes can present as a combination of the following signs: sudden numbness, sudden confusion, and trouble speaking, sudden trouble seeing, walking and sudden severe headaches [12]. One thing you may notice is that all signs have in common is the sudden onset of signs, because as we know, strokes are fast and forcible. In case you forget, think like a stroke and act F.A.S.T., an acronym to help remember where to look for signs of stroke.

Face (droopy)

Arms (weak)

Speech (slurred)

Time (to call for help)

Author: Thuvaraha Jeyakumaran

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[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Stroke facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm.

[2] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Brain basics: Preventing stroke. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Preventing-Stroke.   

[3] What is stroke? Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. (n.d.). https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/what-is-stroke.

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Types of stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm.

[5] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Brain basics: Preventing stroke. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Preventing-Stroke.

[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Types of stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm.

[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Types of stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm.

[8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Types of stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm.

[9] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Types of stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm.

[10] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Stroke facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm.

[11] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 25). Stroke facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm.

[12] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, August 28). Stroke signs and symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm.