**2. Classification**

Stroke is classified into two major types: Ischaemic and haemorrhagic. Ischaemic stroke is by far the commonest, accounting for 85% of all strokes while haemorrhagic stroke accounts for 15% of strokes - intracerebral 10%, subarachnoid 5% [5].

Ischaemic stroke is the leading worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. About 8–12% of patients die within 30 days of their first stroke and those that survive the first attack are at increased risk of a recurrence [11]. Ischaemic stroke is caused by atherosclerotic vascular disease leading to occlusion and stenosis of major intracranial or extracranial arteries and constriction of small penetrating arteries of the brain. Cardioembolic stroke due to myocardial infarction is usually due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. The resulting ischaemia leads to direct brain insult because of inadequacy of flow, hypoxia and metabolic substrate and institutes a cascade of neurochemical processes causing continuous damage within hours. Treatment of ischaemic stroke has been with the use of drugs such as fibrinolytic agents, anticoagulants and antiplatelets to improve blood supply to the brain. Prevention of stroke both at the primary and secondary levels is now possible because of availability of various safe and successful interventions directed at high risk individuals [5, 12].
