Common types of stroke: Classification, symptoms and prevention

Did you know that each type of stroke has different causes, symptoms, and treatments? Clearly identifying each type of stroke is the “key” to early detection and protecting the health of yourself and your loved ones. Let's learn to equip yourself with this important medical knowledge! 

What are the common types of stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and die within minutes. If not treated promptly, a stroke can be fatal or leave serious sequelae such as paralysis, memory loss, difficulty in communication and daily activities. There are two main types of stroke and one temporary type, the most common being:

Ischemic Stroke

This is the most common type of stroke, accounting for about 85% of all strokes. This type of stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Accordingly, ischemic stroke is often divided into two smaller types:

• Thrombotic Stroke: When a blood clot forms in a blood vessel in the brain, usually due to atherosclerosis, the blood vessel accumulates fat and waste products that form plaque, leading to a stroke.
• Embolic Stroke: At this point, a blood clot will form elsewhere in the body (usually the heart), then travel through the bloodstream, and get stuck in a blood vessel in the brain, causing a blockage.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 151,300 strokes per year, but are often more severe and have a higher mortality rate than ischemic strokes. This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing blood to spill out and put pressure on surrounding brain cells. 

Accordingly, hemorrhagic stroke also includes two main forms:

•  Intracerebral Hemorrhage: This type of stroke is caused by long-term high blood pressure or a brain arteriovenous malformation and occurs when an artery in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding inside the brain. 
•  Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: This condition is common in people with a brain aneurysm, which occurs between the brain and the membrane surrounding the brain (arachnoid mater) due to weakened and ruptured blood vessels in the brain.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack, also known as a transient ischemic attack, is a type of mild stroke in which the patient is temporarily affected by a short-term blockage of blood flow to the brain. 

The symptoms of this type of stroke are similar to those of a real stroke, but usually last only a few minutes to a few hours, and then recover completely. Although it is only a transient stroke and does not cause permanent brain damage, it is also considered a warning sign of a greater risk of stroke in the future. Therefore, when encountered, do not be subjective but need to be treated immediately to prevent stroke.

What are the things you should remember about stroke?

Symptoms of different types of stroke

You can recognize the symptoms of this disease by the “FAST” rule.

F (Face – Face): When smiling, one side of the face droops, indicating a stroke.

A (Arms – Arms): If when raising both arms, one of the arms becomes weak or falls down, this is a notable warning sign.

S (Speech – Speech): Difficulty speaking, difficulty pronouncing, and distorted voice are also symptoms that many stroke patients experience.

And finally T (Time): Time is of the essence. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Other symptoms to watch for may include severe headache, dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty seeing clearly in one or both eyes.

Causes and risk factors of different types of stroke

In general, each type of stroke will have its own causes, factors and risks, but all stem from the main risks including: High blood pressure, especially hemorrhagic stroke, people with diseases such as myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, people with diabetes, high cholesterol causing plaque buildup in the arteries, easily leading to ischemic stroke.

Besides diseases, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol are two causes that directly damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke.

And the final cause that is difficult for anyone to avoid with the flow of time is age. The risk of stroke increases with age, especially after the age of 55.

Prevention of common types of stroke

The best way to protect your brain health is to prevent strokes. Some effective preventive measures include: 

• Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, limiting salt and sugar in the diet will help reduce the risk of disease.

• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly to avoid being overweight or obese, which puts pressure on the heart and increases the risk of stroke. 
• Limit smoking and alcohol to avoid negative effects on the cardiovascular system, damage blood vessels and increase the risk of stroke. 
• Performing regular health check-ups helps detect early risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lipid disorders, etc. to have timely intervention measures.
• Treating underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia and following the doctor's treatment regimen and using the correct dosage of medication are also ways to optimally protect your health.

Hopefully the above information will help you better understand the common types of strokes as well as the risk factors that cause strokes so that you can have the best prevention and early detection plan for the disease.