Stroke: A Complete Guide to Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Without immediate treatment, brain cells begin to die within minutes · making rapid response critical to survival and recovery.
Recognising a Stroke · Use FAST
The most reliable way to recognise a stroke quickly is the FAST test. If you see any of these signs · even briefly · call emergency services immediately. Do not drive yourself.
Sudden severe headache described as "the worst headache of my life," sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, sudden loss of balance or co-ordination, and sudden confusion that cannot be explained.
Types of Stroke
Ischaemic Stroke (87% of all strokes)
Caused by a blood clot blocking a vessel supplying the brain. This may originate in the brain's own arteries (thrombotic stroke) or travel from elsewhere, particularly the heart (embolic stroke). This type is treatable with clot-dissolving drugs or catheter-based intervention.
Haemorrhagic Stroke
Caused by a burst blood vessel in or around the brain. High blood pressure is the most common cause. Treatment may require surgery to relieve pressure on the brain.
Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA / "Mini Stroke")
A temporary blockage that produces stroke-like symptoms lasting minutes to hours, with full resolution. TIA is a serious warning sign · approximately 10–15% of TIA patients have a full stroke within 3 months. Urgent evaluation is mandatory.
Many patients dismiss TIA symptoms as "just dizziness." Do not wait to see if it happens again. Call emergency or attend our walk-in neuro emergency 24/7.
Risk Factors
Understanding your risk factors allows your neurologist to create a targeted prevention strategy:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) · the single most important modifiable risk factor
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) · irregular heart rhythm causing clot formation
- Diabetes mellitus · doubles stroke risk
- High cholesterol · promotes artery-narrowing plaques
- Smoking · doubles stroke risk; quitting substantially reduces it
- Obesity and physical inactivity
- Prior stroke or TIA · highest risk factor for future stroke
- Carotid artery disease · narrowing of the neck arteries
Treatment
Emergency Treatment · the "Golden Window"
For ischaemic stroke, time is the most critical variable. Treatment effectiveness declines with every passing minute · this is why our stroke unit operates 24/7 with a target door-to-needle time under 30 minutes.
A clot-dissolving drug administered intravenously within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Highly effective when given early.
A catheter is guided through the artery to physically remove the clot. Effective up to 24 hours in selected patients. Our hybrid cath lab is available 24/7.
Post-event, patients are managed in our Stroke Intensive Care Unit, followed by immediate initiation of prevention medications and physiotherapy.
Our rehabilitation team · physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists · begins within 24 hours of stroke stabilisation.
