A stroke can have a devastating effect on its victims and their families. According to the National Stroke Association, stroke affects a person's intellect, the way he moves and his perception. The brain, divided into four parts, acts as the control center of the body, with each part having a specific task. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, as well as analytical and perceptual tasks, whereas the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body, as well as speech and language. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States."
Vessel Blockage
Single or multiple clots or blockages in the small vessels of the brain cause small strokes that occur deep within the brain tissue, leading to a form of dementia. The strokes, called lacunar strokes, usually occur from years of high blood pressure or diabetes. These blockages and resultant strokes can occur on both the left and right side of the brain.
Cerebral Artery Thrombosis
Cerebral artery thrombosis occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries to the brain. According to the American Heart Association, the blockage usually builds up because of atherosclerosis, the narrowing of arteries by fatty deposits. When oxygen cannot reach the brain, tissue in the area of the brain supplied by that artery quickly dies. According to the National Stroke Association, the left middle cerebral artery is a common site of stroke affecting speech and other language skills. A stroke of this nature also causes paralysis of the right arm, right leg and right side of the face.
Cerebral Embolism
Cerebral embolism is another form of arterial blockage, occurring when an embolus, a piece of fat or clotted blood, or even air, that has traveled from elsewhere in the body lodges in the artery. The embolus is often a blood clot that circulates through the bloodstream from an atherosclerotic artery or from a diseased heart until it wedges in a vessel. According to the American Heart Association, a cerebral embolism is most often the result of a condition known as atrial fibrillation, where the atria or upper chambers of the heart experience an involuntary contraction, causing inefficient emptying of the chambers.
Aneurysm and Hemorrhage
An aneurysm is a weak spot in an artery wall that expands like a balloon, forming an aneurysm, or bulge, in the artery all. It may rupture or burst spontaneously. According to the American Heart Association, when an artery bursts and causes a cerebral hemorrhage, blood flows into and damages surrounding brain tissue. A cerebral hemorrhage may take place within the brain tissue, or intracerebral tissue. High blood pressure usually causes intracerebral hemorrhages. A subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs on the brain's surface; this results from an aneurysm, head injury or a congenital malformation of blood vessels supplying the brain.
