If you suspect someone could be having a stroke, your main concern is making sure they get help and end up safe, supported, and healthy. Knowing what specific kind of stroke they’re having may not be on your mind; however, the type of stroke matters big time to the paramedics who arrive on the scene and to doctors at the hospital who decide on a course of treatment. That information will affect everything they do to support the patient.
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes. Find out how to use the acronym F-A-S-T to recognize stroke to get treatment sooner.
Dr. Brockington is a neurologist and director of the Stroke Center at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West Hospital in New York City.
References
American Stroke Association. (2023). Atherosclerosis and stroke.
American Stroke Association. (n.d.). Hemorrhagic strokes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About stroke.
UpToDate. (2023). Patient education: hemorrhagic stroke treatment (beyond the basics).
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