Differences in symptoms and treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

1 Features of ischemic etiology

Ischemic stroke is a consequence of constriction or blockage of blood vessels, and therefore the brain receives insufficient amounts of blood, which carries oxygen and other necessary substances. This leads to the death of cells of the cortex of the brain.

The main reasons for which ischemia may occur are the following:

• the presence of atherosclerosis;
• presence of diabetes mellitus;
• cardiac rhythm disturbance;
• pathology of blood clotting.

In addition, such a stroke can occur in people with hypertension. The risk group includes patients with excessive weight, people of advanced age and those who have a hereditary predisposition to ischemia.

2 Characteristics of the hemorrhagic type

Hemorrhagic stroke is an excessive blood flow to the brain, which leads to rupture of the artery. Subsequently, there is a hemorrhage in the brain, into his ventricles and the cavity beneath the membrane, hematomas develop.

The causes of stroke of hemorrhagic type include such factors:

• strong intoxication of the body;
• vitamin deficiency;
• inflammatory processes of cerebral vessels;
• presence of cerebral aneurysm.

Also the cause of this type of disease can be congenital abnormalities of blood vessels. However, the most common cause is hypertension, whose presence in a person should become a signal for the therapy and prevention of disease. As in the previous case, elderly people are at risk of this disease, as well as those who are overweight.

3 How to distinguish pathologies

The main difference between the two types of disease is their mechanism, which was discussed above. However, they also differ in their flow patterns and in their manifestation. Ischemia has a tendency to develop gradually. Such a state can last for hours or even days. In this case, the standard symptoms inherent in this disease manifest themselves. These are headaches, tingling and numbness of half the face or the whole body. In this case, limbs or phalanges of the fingers often become numb. Vision and speech may be impaired. The person loses balance, coordination can be broken.

Unlike ischemia, hemorrhagic stroke manifests itself instantaneously. As soon as there is a hemorrhage, a person feels a sharp burning pain in the head, loses consciousness. Such a sensation resembles a strong blow.

The treatment will be different in case of ischemic and hemorrhagic manifestations. Thus, the treatment of an ischemic type stroke should be performed within 2-3 hours after its onset. For this, systemic thrombolysis is performed. This method involves the internal administration of special drugs that dissolve thrombi. Its competent and timely conduct allows you to minimize the negative consequences of stroke and restore all vital functions.

In case of detection of hemorrhagic stroke, the use of this method is unacceptable. To normalize the patient's condition, immediate surgical intervention is performed. It has two options:

• open trepanation of the skull in order to remove the hematoma;
• is an injection of thrombolytic through a small opening in the skull that helps dissolve the hematoma.

This method of treatment has a number of contraindications, which must be taken into account. In no case can it be carried out with congenital vascular pathologies.

Timely delivery of care for strokes of various types is an opportunity to avoid negative consequences, such as partial or complete paralysis and even death.

To avoid this, it is necessary to turn to a specialist at the first manifestations, undergo a comprehensive examination including MRI and ultrasound of cerebral vessels, and immediately start treatment if necessary.