Simply put, a stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Deprived of oxygen, brain cells quickly die. Someone who suffers a stroke may lose memories or abilities that are in the affected parts of the brain.
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There are two types of stroke (
Hemorrhagic – occurs when a blood vessel leaks or a brain aneurysm (enlarged artery) bursts and blood flows into or around the brain, causing pressure.
- Intracerebral hemorrhage is when the damaged vessel leaks blood directly into brain tissue, killing brain cells. In some cases, the hemorrhage occurs due to a genetic malformation of arteries and veins in the central nervous system (AVM, arteriovenous malformation). If this condition is appropriately diagnosed, it can be treated to prevent stroke.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when there is bleeding in the space between the brain and the surrounding tissues. This is usually caused by a burst aneurysm but can occur as the result of head injury or the use of blood-thinning medication.
