TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The death of Dai Jun-lang (戴俊郎), founder and chair of Cheng-Yi Group, has drawn renewed attention to the health risks associated with strokes, per LTN.

Dai, who was 54, led a hotel and hospitality group with operations across Taiwan.

According to health education materials published by Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, strokes are generally classified into three major categories: ischemic stroke caused by blood clots, hemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding in the brain, and transient ischemic attack, commonly referred to as a “mini-stroke,” which temporarily blocks blood flow.

Medical experts noted that hemorrhagic strokes can rapidly cause bleeding within the brain, leading to the formation of large blood clots and a sudden increase in intracranial pressure. Patients may quickly experience deteriorating conditions, potentially falling into a coma or dying within a short period of time.

The hospital added that multiple cerebrovascular events may occur simultaneously or sequentially in different areas of the brain. A sharp rise in intracranial pressure can result in mortality rates exceeding 30%.

Clinically, strokes are most commonly seen in patients between the ages of 40 and 70, with no significant difference between men and women, according to the hospital. Symptoms often begin during physical activity and may initially include headaches and vomiting before progressing within hours to altered consciousness or coma, per LTN.

Other symptoms may include pupil dilation, absence of pupil light reflex, and limb weakness or paralysis. If bleeding occurs in the dominant hemisphere of the brain, typically the left hemisphere in right-handed individuals, patients may lose the ability to speak, while their eyes may visibly deviate toward the affected side.

According to the hospital, the most common locations for hemorrhagic stroke are the basal ganglia at 65%, white matter at 15%, the brainstem at 10%, and the cerebellum at 10%.

Mortality rates vary depending on the location of the hemorrhage. Brainstem hemorrhages have mortality rates exceeding 60%, followed by cerebellar hemorrhages at 40%, basal ganglia hemorrhages at 30%, and cerebral cortex hemorrhages below 20%.