UVa Department of Neurology - What We Treat - Stroke

All strokes are not the same. There are several different types of stroke with varying degrees of complication:

Ischemic Stroke: This type of stroke is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. Reduced blood flow may be caused by a narrowing of the arteries to or in the brain by blood clots coming from the heart or other blood vessels.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A TIA, sometimes called a mini-stroke, is similar to an ischemic stroke, but the symptoms are brief and resolve themselves. The symptoms are typically blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness, and/or paralysis. Do not ignore a TIA because they often are a warning that a serious stroke is about to occur.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A stroke caused by a problem with a blood vessel within the brain. Surgery is usually the best treatment. Nationally, about 25 percent of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage die, and 50 percent suffer significant permanent impairment. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs secondary to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, other than trauma. Two common causes are:
- Aneurysm: A blood vessel within the brain that has dilated or enlarged.
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM): A deformity in an artery or vein within the brain.

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