You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-207-6143 or by submitting a request through our secure online form. We're here to support you every step of the way.
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood clot or damaged blood vessel disrupts blood flow to the brain, ultimately affecting its function. The brain needs constant blood flow to receive oxygen and nutrients, and a stroke (sometimes called a “brain attack”) can cause severe complications in just a few minutes.
There are two main types of stroke—ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes—based on what causes the lack of blood flow. Strokes can be deadly or cause lasting brain damage, especially without adequate treatment for stroke, so getting medical attention immediately is crucial, no matter what type of stroke you have.
Ischemic stroke is the name for strokes that occur because of a blocked blood vessel. The cause of the blockage can be a blood clot, or a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque.
Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, accounting for about 87% of all stroke cases in the U.S. They present typical stroke symptoms such as:
An ischemic stroke is typically diagnosed using a physical exam by a doctor paired with advanced imaging that can show the cause and nature of the blockage. Treatments include medications to dissolve the blood clot or interventions to physically break up the clot or clear plaque out of the way and restore blood flow.
Ischemic strokes are subdivided into two main categories—thrombotic and embolic—based on the original location of the blood clot. Thrombotic strokes involve a blood clot originating in the brain, while embolic strokes result from a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain.
A hemorrhagic stroke is a type of stroke that results from a blood vessel in the brain bursting or leaking. The resulting blood loss creates pressure injury to the brain, damaging brain cells. Hemorrhagic strokes are rarer than ischemic strokes but progress more quickly and are usually more severe in symptoms.
Hemorrhagic strokes have several possible causes, including:
Hemorrhagic strokes have the same basic stroke symptoms as ischemic strokes but are more likely to cause severe and sudden headaches. A doctor can diagnose a hemorrhagic stroke through a combination of a physical exam and medical imaging to locate the blood loss. Treatment options for hemorrhagic stroke focus on draining the blood to relieve pressure and repairing damaged blood vessels to stop further bleeding.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke? Learn about the risk factors and symptoms of a hemorrhagic stroke as Christopher Anderson, MD, MSc, neurologist and division chief, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, discusses the history of strokes and treatment options for a hemorrhagic stroke.
Hemorrhagic strokes have two subtypes, depending on where the bleeding occurs:
A few other classifications of stroke exist outside of the main categories of ischemic and hemorrhagic.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called a “mini stroke.” It resembles an ischemic stroke but lasts a short time, often only a few minutes. Because of how quickly it’s over, a TIA may not cause permanent damage, but it is often a warning sign of a full ischemic stroke in the future. If you experience a TIA, seek medical attention immediately.
Cryptogenic is a medical term meaning “of unknown origin.” If you’re diagnosed with a cryptogenic stroke, it means that you had a stroke but that doctors can’t identify what caused it and not associated exhausted known dangerous diagnoses.
"Brainstem stroke" describes the location of the stroke, not the cause. Brainstem strokes can be particularly debilitating because the brainstem controls essential functions like breathing, heartbeat, and consciousness. Damaging the brainstem can have severe consequences, including coma and locked-in syndrome, a kind of paralysis in which the victim can only move their eyes.
Recurrent stroke isn't a type of stroke but the condition of having multiple strokes. Unfortunately, having one stroke puts you at elevated risk for a second stroke, and the risk of serious complications increases with each stroke you have.
Strokes are complex, and there are many types of strokes, so it's natural to have questions. Some of the most common are:
There are two main types of stroke based on what caused the stroke, but there are other classifications, too. The five types of stroke you're most likely to hear about are ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack (also called TIA or mini-stroke), cryptogenic stroke, and brainstem stroke.
Strokes are sometimes called "brain attacks" since they are similar to heart attacks but occur in the brain. You may also hear the term "cerebrovascular accident" to describe a stroke.
Recovery is most difficult with hemorrhagic strokes. They progress more quickly than ischemic strokes and may cause more damage before you receive treatment. Also, they can be harder to treat effectively. Regardless of the type of stroke, the longer it goes untreated and the more brain damage you suffer, the harder it will be to recover.
Blood clots cause a type of stroke called an ischemic stroke.
Both types are ischemic strokes, meaning a blood clot causes them. The difference is where the blood clot formed initially. Thrombotic strokes result from a blood clot originating in the brain, while an embolic stroke is caused by a blood clot that formed elsewhere and then traveled to the brain.
When you go to the hospital after a stroke, the doctor will order imaging tests that show blood flow in the brain. They'll be able to see if there's a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).
You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-207-6143 or by submitting a request through our secure online form. We're here to support you every step of the way.
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