An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain becomes blocked.

What is it?  Ischemic ("is-skeem-ic") stroke occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked.  The brain depends on its arteries to bring fresh blood from the heart and lungs. The blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain, and takes away carbon dioxide and cellular waste. If an artery is blocked, the brain cells (neurons) cannot make enough energy and will eventaully stop working. If the artery remains blocked for more than a few minutes, the brain cells may die. This is why immediate medical treatment is absolutely critical.

What causes it?  Ischemic stroke can be caused by several different kinds of diseases. The most common problem is narrowing of the arteries in the neck or head. This is most often caused atherosclerosis, or gradual cholesterol deposition. If the arteries become too narrow, blood cells may collect and form blood clots. These blood clots can block the artery where they are formed (thrombosis), or can dislodge and become trapped in arteries closer to the brain (embolism). Another cause of  stroke is blood clots in the heart, which can occur as a result of irregular heartbeat (for example, atrial fibrillation), heart attack, or abnormalities of the heart valves. While these are the most common causes of ischemic stroke, there are many other possible causes. Examples include use of street drugs, traumatic injury to the blood vessels of the neck, or disorders of blood clotting.

Are there different kinds of ischemic stroke? Yes. Ischemic stroke can further be divided into two main types: thrombotic and embolic.

A thrombotic stroke occurs when diseased or damaged cerbral arteries become blocked by the formation of a blood clot within the brain. Clinically referred to as cerebral thrombosis or cerebral infarction, this type of event is responsible for almost 50% of all strokes. Cerebral thrombosis can also be divided into an additional two categories that correlate to the location of the blockage within the brain: large-vessel thrombosis and small-vessel thrombosis. Large-vessel thrombosis is the term used when the blockage is in one of the brain's larger blood-supplying arteries such as the carotid or middle cerebral, while small-vessel thrombosis involves one (or more) of the brain's smaller, yet deeper penetrating arteries. This latter type of stroke is also called a lacuner stroke.

An embolic stroke is also caused by a clot within an artery, but in this case the clot (or emboli) was formed somewhere other than in the brain itself. Often from the heart, these emboli will travel the bloodstream until they become lodged and can not travel any further. This naturally restricts the flow of blood to the brain and results in almost immediate physical and neurological deficits.

Deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, the brain suffers damage as a result of the stroke.

Who gets it?  Ischemic stroke is by far the most common kind of stroke, accounting for about 88% of all strokes.  Stroke can affect people of all ages, including children. Many people with ischemic strokes are older (60 or more years old), and the risk of stroke increases with older ages. At each age, stroke is more common in men than women, and it is more common among African-Americans than white Americans. Many people with stroke have other problems or conditions which put them at higher risk for stroke, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, smoking, or diabetes. Click here for information about stroke risk factors and how to reduce your risk.