What’s the Difference Between Stroke and Brain Hemorrhage?

Most people have heard terms like stroke, brain hemorrhage, or brain clot – but what do they actually mean? And how do they differ? In this article, we’ll break down what a stroke is, the two main types, and why understanding the difference matters – especially in emergencies.

Stroke – An Umbrella Term

A stroke is not a single disease – it’s a general term for sudden disruptions in blood flow to the brain. Strokes fall into two major categories:

1. Ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot)

2. Hemorrhagic stroke (caused by a ruptured blood vessel)

In most countries, about 85% of all strokes are ischemic, and about 15% are hemorrhagic [1].

Ischemic Stroke – A Clot in the Brain

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. This stops oxygen from reaching parts of the brain, causing brain cells to begin dying within minutes [2].

Common causes:

• Atrial fibrillation

• Atherosclerosis

• High blood pressure

• Smoking or diabetes

Hemorrhagic Stroke – When a Vessel Bursts

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures, leading to bleeding in or around the brain. The leaked blood damages surrounding brain tissue and increases pressure inside the skull, which can be life-threatening [3].

Common causes:

• High blood pressure

• Vascular malformations

• Blood thinners

• Head trauma

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Stroke symptoms often look the same, regardless of type:

• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg

• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech

• Vision changes

• Loss of balance

• Sudden severe headache (more common in hemorrhagic stroke)

Since the symptoms are similar, the only way to tell the difference is through emergency brain imaging – usually a CT scan or MRI [4].

Why Does the Difference Matter?

Because treatments are completely different. Giving clot-busting drugs to someone with a hemorrhage can make things much worse. That’s why getting the right diagnosis fast is critical [5].

Time is brain: with every minute of delay during an ischemic stroke, millions of brain cells die.

Stroke, Brain Hemorrhage, and Dementia

Regardless of type, a stroke can lead to long-term complications. Many people experience cognitive problems, such as memory loss or difficulty concentrating. Repeated minor strokes – especially ischemic – are a common cause of vascular dementia, where reduced blood flow slowly damages the brain over time [6].

Early diagnosis and prevention are key to reducing both disability and the risk of future memory disorders.

A personal alarm that can be triggered at any time

Sensorem’s personal alarm can automatically trigger the alarm in the event of a fall and then automatically call relatives using the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The user can also trigger the alarm manually by pressing the physical alarm button. The personal alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app.

 

 

SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN INCREASE SAFETY AFTER A STROKE

References

1. Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). (2023). “Stroke – statistics and facts.”
2. Hankey, G.J. (2017). “Stroke.” The Lancet.
3. Qureshi, A.I. et al. (2001). “Intracerebral hemorrhage.” The New England Journal of Medicine.
4. Wardlaw, J.M. et al. (2004). “Diagnosis of stroke subtype with brain imaging.” The Lancet Neurology.
5. Berge, E. et al. (2005). “Safety of thrombolysis in stroke mimics and neuroimaging-negative stroke.” Stroke.
6. Gorelick, P.B. et al. (2011). “Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia.” Stroke.