35^th European Heart and Heart Failure Congress

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off or significantly reduced. Without oxygen carried by the blood, brain cells can die quickly, which can cause permanent brain damage. There are two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke is caused by the absence of blood flow to the brain tissue. This can be caused when the arteries in the brain shrink due to a condition such as atherosclerosis. A blood clot can form in the arteries to narrow and block blood flow. This is called thrombosis. Another cause of ischemic stroke is an embolism. This occurs when a blood clot is formed somewhere in the body, and then moves to the brain and blocks blood flow.