A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted as a result of a broken or blocked blood vessel. Stroke may be hemorrhagic or ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or breaks, allowing blood to leak into the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked or restricted by severely narrowed arteries or a blood clot.
Because treatment depends on the type of stroke, your doctor may use head CT or head MRI to help diagnose your condition. Other tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), carotid ultrasound, echocardiography or cerebral angiography. Immediate stroke treatment can help save lives and reduce disability by restoring blood flow for an ischemic stroke or controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain in the case of a hemorrhagic stroke.