Brain Stroke: Causes, Warning Signs & Emergency Treatment

What is a Brain Stroke

A brain stroke is a serious medical emergency of bleeding inside the brain. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. It can be due to any reason, such as high blood pressure or plaque buildup.

Without an adequate oxygen and nutrient supply, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Early treatment is crucial to decreasing the damage and promoting smooth recovery. Being aware of the warning signs, especially BE FAST signs of stroke, can help save many lives and avoid long-term health complications.

Common Names of Brain Stroke

Some of the alternative names of a brain stroke are:

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Brain attack
Mini-stroke (for a Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA)

What are the Common Causes of Stroke

There are two types of brain stroke:

Ischemic strokes: Blood clot blocks a blood vessel connected to the brain.
Hemorrhagic strokes: Blood vessel in the brain breaks or tears.

Let's explore their causes individually.

Common Causes of Ischemic Strokes

Atherosclerosis: Hardened or narrowed arteries lead to improper blood and clot formation.
Atrial fibrillation: An irregular heartbeat impairs the heart's pumping ability. This can let blood pool in the heart and cause clots.
Clotting disorders: In some conditions, blood clots too easily, blocking the blood supply to the brain.
Heart defects: Small birth defects in the heart may allow clots to enter the brain.
Microvascular ischemic disease: Damage to tiny brain blood vessels decreases blood circulation, increasing stroke risk.

Common Causes of Hemorrhagic Strokes

Brain aneurysms: There is a weak spot in the wall of the brain’s blood vessel, which could swell and burst, leading to a stroke.
Brain tumors: Tumors can block blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to the brain.
High blood pressure: Constant high blood pressure can damage vessels, causing them to clog or burst.
Moyamoya disease: Narrow brain arteries force the brain to develop tiny, weak vessels that easily get clogged up.

Early Warning Signs of Stroke and Mini-Stroke

Some of the early warning signs of stroke and mini stroke are:

A. Early Warning Signs of Stroke

One-sided weakness or numbness in your face, arm, or leg
Difficulty in talking and walking
Unexplained fainting and seizure
Unable to understand what others are saying
Unexplained, sudden, severe headache
Blurred vision
Double vision
Loss of sight in one or both eyes
Feeling dizzy or unsteady
Struggling to keep your balance

Other less common signs are briefly losing consciousness, feeling confused, or slipping into a coma.

B. Early Warning Signs of Mini-Stroke

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke" occurs due to a brief disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain due to a lack of oxygen.

One-sided weakness, numbness, or paralysis
Slurred speech
Balance and coordination issues
Unable to understand others talks
Loss of vision in one or both eyes
Double vision
Dizziness

Stroke risk factors

The following are the risk factors of stroke:

People older than 65
Smoke
Use other forms of tobacco or nicotine (like vaping)
Use recreational medicine
Use of nonprescription drugs
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes
Alcohol abuse
COVID-19
Frequent migraine headaches

What are the BE FAST Signs of Stroke

The acronym BE FAST stroke symptoms, stands for Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. This helps you spot common stroke signs quickly:

Here is the expanded version:

B - Balance: Difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of coordination.
E - Eyes: Sudden blurred vision, double vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
F - Face: If smiling, one-sided facial drooping occurs.
A - Arms: When lifting both arms, one drifts downward.
S - Speech: Slurred speech or unable to comprehend others
T - Time: If you notice any of these signs, call emergency services immediately, as every minute counts.

Emergency Treatment Guide for Brain Stroke

The emergency treatment guide is based on the following conditions:

How much the stroke injured the brain
Which region of your brain is affected
Which type of stroke happened

7 Key Steps of Emergency Treatment Guide for Stroke

Call for emergency help immediately
Early paramedic treatment
CT or MRI scans to help understand the type of stroke for the right treatment.
For ischemic stroke, doctors may administer a clot‑busting medicine (tPA).
For hemorrhagic stroke, doctors may use a surgical procedure, or endovascular repair may be needed to stop bleeding.
Blood thinners, blood pressure medicines, and surgery, can be used to avoid repeat strokes.
Speech, physical, and occupational therapy start early to regain movement and communication skills.

What to do During a Stroke

If you notice anyone having a stroke, you should do the following things:

Call emergency services right away.
Keep the person calm and comfortable.
Help them sit or lie down in a safe environment.
Loosen any tight clothing to ensure easy breathing.
If the person is conscious, put them on their side with their head slightly raised. This will avoid choking.
Do not give food, drink, or any medicine by yourself.
Monitor their breathing.
Be prepared to perform CPR if they cease breathing.
Keep note of every symptom (time and intensity).
Do not leave the person until help arrives.

How Can I Prevent a Stroke?

The ways to prevent a stroke are:

Eat plenty of healthy foods
Maintain a weight that’s healthy for you
Engage in regular physical activity
Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol
Follow your doctor's prescription in case of any health condition
Quit smoking

FAQs

Q: What is the stroke survival rate?
A: About 50-60% of people endure a stroke; however, survival depends on stroke type, age, and timely, appropriate treatment. Ischaemic strokes have a greater survival rate when compared to hemorrhagic ones.

Q: What is stroke recovery time?
A: Recovery varies across different individuals and depends on stroke severity and rehabilitation. Some may recover within weeks, while others may take months or even years.

Q: How do I take care of myself after a stroke?
A: Recovery from stroke becomes fast when you follow the points below:

Take note of your doctor’s advice
Take prescribed medication
Take timely neurorehabilitation therapies
Maintain a healthy diet
Follow customized physical activity
Control risk factors such as blood pressure and diabetes

Q: How do you feel after a stroke?
A: You can notice weakness, fatigue, challenges in movements or communicating, emotional changes, and cognitive impairment. Do not worry; they will improve over time following proper therapy.

Q: What to do if you have a stroke alone?
A: Call emergency services right away, try to be as calm as possible, lie down safely, and do not eat food or drink anything. Additionally, keep track of your symptoms until help arrives.

By -Dr Aaksha Shukla | September 18, 2025 | 9 Min Read