Cerebrovascular Accidents otherwise known as Stroke is a rapidly developing loss of brain functions because of the disturbance of the blood supply to the brain. It commonly affects the basilar carotid, external carotid, internal carotid, common carotid, and vertebral arteries.

Cerebrovascular accident is considered a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage and even death. Risk factors can include: age, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, and atrial fibrillation.

Classification of Cerebrovascular Accidents

Cerebrovascular accidents or stroke are classified into several different types. 80% of it can be ischemic which is divided into thrombolic (75%) and embolic (25%). Thrombolic stroke is divided into two, depending on the affectations, the large vessel (75%) and small vessels “lacuna” (25%). A hemorhagic stroke occurs 20% of the time. It can be divided into two: intracerebral that occurs 67% and subarachnoid that occurs 33%.

Causes of Cerebrovascular Accidents

	I – Thrombus	II – Embolus	III – Hemorrhage
ONSET	Gradual, evolving over minutes or days. May occur during sleep.	Sudden, not related to activity.	Sudden, usually during activity.
AGE	Middle-aged and older people	Any age	Any age
PREDISPOSING FACTORS	Atherosclerosis, smoking, Diabetes mellitus	Moving of blood clots, Rheumatic heart disease, Myocardial infarction, ventricular aneurysm	Hypertension, rupture of aneurysm, trauma
ARTERY AFFECTED	Carotid	Middle Cerebral	Arterioles of basal ganglia and brainstem
SYMPTOMS	Slow decrease in function, consciousness may or may not be lost	Immediate maximum deficit, consciousness preserved	Rapid hemiplegia, severe headache, stiff neck, loss of consciousness
PROGNOSIS	Rapid improvement	Fair to good	Poor