Stroke is an emergency. Get medical attention immediately and know when the symptoms started. Jot down the time the symptoms started. Sometimes these warning signs occur for only a few minutes and then resolve. Even if this happens, or if you think you are getting better, call for help.
Ischemic stroke is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding inside the head. Doctors call this area of dead cells an infarct. Over hours, this chain reaction endangers brain cells in a progressively larger area of brain where blood supply is compromised but not completely cut off. Immediate medical care is critical. New treatments work only if given within a few hours after the onset of a stroke.