ANS11513 02:31

MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: A stroke occurs when the blood flow in part of your brain is blocked. After just a few minutes, the starved brain cells begin to die. Normally, the brain receives blood via two major pairs of arteries, which branch throughout brain tissue and supply your brain cells with a constant flow of oxygen, glucose, and nutrients necessary for their functions. During a hemorrhagic stroke, abnormal bleeding disrupts normal blood flow. For example, in an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke a blood vessel burst spilling blood directly to your brain while robbing the intended tissue of nourishment. Both the hemorrhage and lack of blood supply, called ischemia, destroy brain tissue. A subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weak spot in a blood vessel wall, called an aneurysm, bursts and leaks blood into the tight space between your brain and your skull. The high pressure bleeding results in serious damage to brain tissue. Immediate treatment for your stroke may help to minimize brain cell injury and death. In the case of hemorrhagic stroke, emergency surgery may be necessary to repair damaged arteries or reduce the pressure of the blood on your brain. You may be given medication to help the brain's blood flow return to normal. … more