For many people, the warning signs of a stroke — like numbness in the arm, confusion, loss of balance or trouble speaking and seeing — are unmistakable. But often, the underlying cause of these life-threatening medical events can be harder to uncover.
“Strokes are complicated because there’s no pain associated with it,” said Dr. Rishi Gupta, director of stroke and neurocritical care with Wellstar Health System. “Many people think they can sleep it off and they’ll be better in the morning.”
“However, if you are experiencing the signs of a stroke, the faster you get to the emergency room, the more likely it is that we can reverse disability.”
While the telltale symptoms may be similar to one another, all strokes are not alike.
At Wellstar, we know each and every stroke is different. That’s why our neuro team provides tailored care along with fast, life-saving treatment for all types of strokes, even the most complex cases.
Fight back against strokes and learn the difference between the three main types: ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attack.
Types of Stroke
Not All Are the Same
Published on May 06, 2021
Last updated 11:22 AM May 06, 2021
If you are experiencing the signs of a stroke, the faster you get to the emergency room, the more likely it is that we can reverse disability.
- Dr. Rishi Gupta
Wellstar Director of Stroke and Neurocritical Care
Ischemic stroke
An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked or becomes narrowed. By far, these are the most common type and account for about 87% of all cases, according to the American Stroke Association.
Fatty deposits lining the artery walls can cause a blockage in two ways:
- Thrombotic – A clot that develops in an artery that supplies blood to the brain.
- Embolic – A clot that develops elsewhere and is transported by the blood to a narrow brain artery. This is often caused by an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to pooling and clotting of blood in the heart.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke is caused when a blood vessel leaks or bursts, and then bleeds in the brain. These are less common and account for about 13% of all stroke cases, according to the American Stroke Association.
Weakened blood vessels, often due to hypertension or an aneurysm, are the cause of a hemorrhagic stroke.
Like ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes can occur in two different ways:
- Intracerebral – A blood vessel that bursts and bleeds within the brain.
- Subarachnoid – A blood vessel that ruptures and bleeds in the outside space surrounding the brain.
Transient ischemic attack
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a mini-stroke, occurs when blood flow is temporarily blocked from the brain.While these medical episodes may not cause lasting damage, TIAs need to be taken seriously. TIAs can signal that a full-blown stroke is on the way, so it’s critical to get expert medical care right away.
No matter the type of stroke, calling 911 is still the quickest way to save a life and prevent lasting brain damage.
Want to take action before a stroke happens? Learn ways to lower your risk and stay ahead of strokes.
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Highlights
Conquering Pain with Spine Surgery at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
With minimally invasive spine surgeries and compassionate, expert caregivers, Wellstar’s spine patients are returning to their routines, pain-free.
Brenda Hawkins was having problems with her neck, and it got to the point where she couldn’t lift her arms above her head.
As her issues got progressively worse, she sought care from neurosurgeons who were unable to treat her. Then, she went to Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, where she not only found a solution, but a true healthcare partner.
Dr. Basheer Shakir, a neurosurgeon at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, specializes in spine and neck procedures that are minimally invasive, reducing recovery time for patients. Through the front of Brenda’s neck, he was able to remove discs that were pinching her nerves and causing neck and arm pain. She went home from the hospital the next morning.
A few months later, Brenda found herself struggling with a lower back issue that made it hard to walk. She returned to Dr. Shakir, who presented her with another option that was minimally invasive. This time, he did a procedure through the side of her spine to decompress her nerves and fuse her lumbar spine. She was able to walk out of the hospital three days later.
Brenda said Dr. Shakir is "such a great person and did a great job.”
“He's very personable. I just wanted to walk again, and he enabled me to do that,” she said.
Brenda is one of many patients who have benefited from spine surgery at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital. Spine surgery doesn’t just fix back pain — it can also address issues including weakness, loss of dexterity, numbness, bowel or bladder issues and improper posture.
Solutions for long-term pain
Liz Helgesen had been dealing with low back pain for 20 years. She couldn’t sit for long periods of time, travel on long car rides or get dressed and put shoes on, and she was experiencing muscle spasms after performing simple tasks. To deal with the pain, she had tried several methods including exercise, yoga, physical therapy, dry needling and medication.
Dr. Shakir was also able to help Liz, performing a procedure to shave the bone and make room for the nerves that were being compressed.
Just three months after her surgery, Liz is able to turn and bend without back pain, and she has told her friends and other healthcare providers about how Dr. Shakir has helped her live more comfortably.
Finding a healthcare family after injury
Jeff Chandler has also been able to recover with the help of Dr. Shakir and the team at North Fulton. When Jeff fell off a roof last year, he snapped his pelvis in half and broke his ribs and right shoulder. His July 2020 surgery rebuilt his pelvis and sacrum, stabilized his lower spine and decompressed the nerves.
Jeff said his inpatient rehabilitation care team at North Fulton became like family as he began recovery. He’s now able to walk again with no support after the surgery done by Dr. Shakir.
“Dr. Shakir is great. He is kind, encouraging and realistic — which can be scary, but he is very thorough and a good listener,” Jeff said. “He focuses on the bright side of things and did an awesome job in surgery. He is confident and comfortable.”
Wellstar’s expert neurosurgeons can help stop pain, reduce spine degeneration and help you get back to your everyday routine.
“North Fulton offers state-of-the-art procedures and all modern, minimally invasive techniques that allow operations to be done outpatient or with a very short hospital stay with speedy recovery,” Dr. Shakir said.
To make an appointment with Dr. Shakir and find out if spine surgery is the solution for you, call (770) 664-9600.
Highlights
Neuro Care You Can Count on at Wellstar
When Vera McAdoo was experiencing bleeding in her brain, Wellstar didn’t give up and stayed by her side for every step of recovery.
In September 2019, Vera was at work as an inventory analyst. Then, she suddenly woke up in the emergency department at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
She had a bleeding arteriovenous fistula, an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain. She had been exhibiting some worrying signs. She was not talking, she couldn’t open her eyes, and her pupils were not responding.
But Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. William Humphries saw hope, and Wellstar was there when seconds mattered.
Vera was taken to the angiography suite for a catheter-based treatment to control the source of the bleeding before going to the operating room. She underwent an emergent surgery to remove the fistula and treat the swelling in her brain by removing part of her skull.
She was in a coma in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit for 30 days, but her care team never gave up. Then, as she started healing, Kennestone’s inpatient rehabilitation program stepped in, ensuring she had the tools and support she needed to return to routine.
Kennestone is home to a specialized Neuro-Intensive Care Unit staffed with a multidisciplinary team of neurocritical care physicians, neurologists and nurses experienced in treating the most complex stroke and aneurysm cases.
“It was a blessing that Dr. Humphries was there and saved my life,” Vera said. “My care at Kennestone was great.”
To learn more about how Wellstar treats conditions involving the brain, visit our neuro care site.
Highlights
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Performs First Neurovascular Robotic Procedure
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital performed its first robotic neurovascular case — a diagnostic cerebral angiogram, which is a procedure used to evaluate blood vessels in the brain. The ability to complete these high-level procedures is now possible using the CorPath System, a robotic-assisted technology. Neurosurgeons Dr. Ahmad Khaldi and Dr. William Humphries performed the procedure.
“The first case with the CorPath System was very successful. Sitting away from the patient in a radiation-protected cockpit, I was able to use a joystick to advance the catheter, millimeter by millimeter,” Dr. Khaldi said. “Additionally, the enhanced visualization of the technology provided me with great control of the catheter. In my opinion, the enhanced control, visualization, and measurement of the CorPath System will transform the way we perform neurovascular procedures and ultimately improve patient care.”
“An aging baby boomer population is driving demand for new innovative technologies to treat strokes,” added Dr. Humphries. “Robotics offers physicians and patients a minimally-invasive technology that may improve the ability to provide rapid endovascular care to patients in the future.”
The CorPath System allows interventional neurosurgeons to perform the procedure remotely, away from the patient bedside. Seated in a radiation-protected cockpit, the physician uses a joystick to robotize catheters and wires to access the neck and brain blood vessels. Additionally, the technology provides neurosurgeons with the ability to accurately measure blockages and precisely position stents. The hope is that this technology will eventually be used for additional stroke treatments to restore blood flow to the brain and treat other complex diseases such as brain aneurysms.
“We are proud to be one of the first medical centers in Georgia to adopt the CorPath System,” said Wellstar Senior Vice President and Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Chief Operating Officer Callie Andrews. “The adoption of the CorPath System at Wellstar Kennestone truly emphasizes our continuous commitment to delivering state-of-the-art technology to our patients and clinical community.”
