Regardless of the specific aetiology, ischaemic stroke occurs when blood supply in a cerebral vascular territory is critically reduced due to occlusion or critical stenosis of a cerebral artery. A minority of ischaemic strokes are caused by cerebral sinus or cortical vein thrombosis. Risk factors strongly associated with ischaemic stroke include older age, family history, hypertension, [1] smoking, [2] diabetes, [3] atrial fibrillation, [4] comorbid cardiac conditions, [5] carotid artery stenosis, [6] [7] [8] sickle cell disease, [9] and dyslipidaemia. [10]
Cause of a minority of ischaemic strokes. Strong risk factors include older age, smoking, and history of cardiovascular disease. [11] Carotid revascularisation of high-grade asymptomatic, and moderate or high-grade symptomatic, carotid artery stenosis helps to prevent future stroke.
Cerebral ischaemia should be suspected when a patient presents with typical symptoms of rapidly resolving unilateral weakness or numbness, but also with less classic symptoms such as unilateral vision loss, transient aphasia, or vertigo. TIAs have considerable risk of early recurrent cerebral ischaemic events. Strong risk factors include atrial fibrillation, valvular disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, [12] carotid stenosis, [13] cigarette smoking, [14] alcohol abuse, [15] and older age. Evaluation and initiation of secondary prevention should occur rapidly.
Intra-cerebral haemorrhage is caused by vascular rupture with bleeding into the brain parenchyma. Three-quarters of haemorrhagic strokes are due to intra-cerebral haemorrhage, with the rest being due to subarachnoid haemorrhage. Strong risk factors include family history, older age, [16] haemophilia, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hypertension, [17] anticoagulation, [18] [19] use of illicit sympathomimetic drugs, [20] vascular malformations, [21] and Moyamoya syndrome. [22]
Typically asymptomatic until ruptured, resulting in a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Screening with non-invasive neuroangiography is recommended for at-risk populations. Strong risk factors include smoking, moderate-high level alcohol consumption, [23] family history, previous subarachnoid haemorrhage, and heritable connective tissue disease. [24]
A medical emergency where there is bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The most common cause of non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage is intra-cranial aneurysm. Strong risk factors include hypertension, smoking, family history, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. [25]
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