Stroke symptoms: How to identify the three different types of stroke

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About 100,000 people have strokes every year in the UK, and there are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK. It’s very important to understand the symptoms of a stroke because the sooner you receive treatment, the less damage you’re likely to suffer. Express.co.uk reveals the main symptoms of a stroke and the difference between the three types.

A stroke is a brain attack that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing brain cell death.

Damage to your brain cells impacts how the body works, including how you think and feel.

One stroke happens every five minutes in the UK, so it is vital to know how to spot the signs of a stroke in yourself and someone else.

How to identify the three different types of stroke

There are three different types of stroke – ischaemic, haemorrhagic, and transient ischaemic attacks.

The symptoms of a stroke depend less on the type of stroke and more on where the stroke takes place in the brain and how big the damaged area is.

Although the effect of each stroke is different, the main symptoms are:

  • Movement and balance problems
  • Communication problems
  • Memory, concentration and thinking problems (cognition)
  • Problems being able to notice things to one side (spatial neglect)
  • Vision problems
  • Swallowing problems
  • Bladder and bowel problems
  • Fatigue (severe tiredness)

The FAST test can help you to recognise the signs quicker:

  • Facial weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
  • Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
  • Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
  • Time to call 999: if you see any of these signs.

Express.co.uk reveals the differences between each type of stroke.

Ischaemic stroke

An ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, making up around 85 percent of all strokes.

This type of stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain and this is most common above the age of 70.

Ischaemic strokes happen due to atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, heart conditions, or arterial dissection, and should be treated as a medical emergency.

Round 12 percent of people experiencing an ischaemic stroke are eligible for thrombolysis as treatment, but other possible treatments could involve thrombectomy or surgery.

The signs of an ischaemic stroke are no different from the main symptoms listed above.

Haemorrhagic stroke

About 15 percent of strokes are haemorrhagic strokes.

These are caused by bleeding in or around the brain and are more common between the ages of 45 and 70.

The two main types of haemorrhagic stroke are bleeding within the brain and bleeding on the surface of the brain.

According to the Stroke Association, with haemorrhagic strokes, some people get a sudden, severe headache or a very stiff neck with vomiting during a haemorrhagic stroke.

However, the main signs of a haemorrhagic stroke are the same as other strokes.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke.

This kind of stroke is the same as a regular stroke, but that the symptoms only last for a short amount of time.

This is because the blockage that stops the blood from getting to your brain is temporary.

The symptoms are the same, but when the clot moves away the symptoms will stop.

The Stroke Association warns: “A TIA has the same main symptoms as a stroke.

“You might feel like you’re fine afterwards, but it’s vital to get medical help right away.”

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