Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. There are two major types of stroke:

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot. Ischemic strokes can also be caused by arterial plaque.

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes weak and bursts open causing blood to leak into the brain.

Risk factors for strokes include:

Graphic showing the signs of a stroke using the F.A.C.E. acronym.

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

Headache
Change in alertness
Changes in hearing or taste
Changes that affect touch and the ability to feel pain, pressure, or different temperatures
Confusion or loss of memory
Problems swallowing
Problems writing or reading
Dizziness or abnormal feeling of movement
Eyesight problems, such as decreased vision, double vision, or total loss of vision
Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
Loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking
Muscle weakness in the face, arm, or leg on one side
Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
Personality, mood, or emotional changes
Trouble speaking or understanding others

A Deborah Specialty Physician will perform an exam to:

Check for problems with vision, movement, feeling, reflexes, understanding, or speaking
Listen to the carotid arteries in the neck with a stethoscope for an abnormal sound, called a bruit, which is caused by abnormal blood flow
Check for high blood pressure

These additional tests will likely be ordered:

CT scan of the brain to determine if there is any bleeding
MRI of the brain to determine the location of the stroke
Angiogram of the head to look for a blood vessel that is blocked or bleeding
Carotid ultrasound to see if arteries in the neck have narrowed
Echocardiogram to see if the stroke could have been caused by a blood clot from the heart
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or CT angiography to check for abnormal blood vessels in the brain