When you are showing signs of a stroke or have symptoms that you feel are suspicious, it’s important for your medical provider to take them seriously. There are three types of strokes that your doctor should examine you for if you are showing signs like having one side of your face droop or trouble speaking clearly. Those three types of strokes include:
- Transient ischemic attacks
- Ischemic strokes
- Hemorrhagic strokes
Failing to diagnose a stroke in its early stages could result in a patient having lasting, serious complications. In some instances, failing to diagnose a stroke could lead to death.
What is a transient ischemic attack?
Also known as a TIA, a transient ischemic attack is called a ministroke or warning stroke. Any temporary blockage of the flow of blood to the brain results in a TIA.
What is an ischemic stroke?
An ischemic stroke happens when there is a blood clot that prevents blood from traveling to the brain. Normally, this is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits in the blood vessels around the body. If that fat breaks free, then an ischemic stroke could occur.
Ischemic strokes may be embolic or thrombotic. Embolic strokes begin at another part of the body, while thrombotic strokes are caused by clots that form in the brain.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
In a hemorrhagic stroke, the patient has a stroke because a blood vessel in the brain has ruptured. This term can include medical emergencies such as an aneurysm or extremely high blood pressure that causes bleeding. Arteriovenous malformation, or oddly shaped blood vessels, may also lead to this kind of stroke.
Strokes sometimes mimic other health conditions, but the symptoms are straightforward. If the face droops, both arms cannot be raised at the same level, your speech is slurred or you struggle talking, then you could be having a stroke. Other symptoms, like sudden confusion, dizziness, trouble seeing in one eye or a sudden and severe headache may also occur.
Medical providers are trained to recognize strokes. If they fail to do the right testing or dismiss your concerns despite your symptoms, then you may have a case against them for negligence and malpractice.