Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood
vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. This causes
blood not to reach the brain. High blood pressure is the most important risk
factor for this type of stroke. Ischemic strokes account for about 87% of all
strokes. An ischemic stroke can occur in two ways.
Embolic Stroke
In an embolic
stroke, a blood clot or plaque fragment forms somewhere in the body (usually
the heart) and travels to the brain. Once in the brain, the clot travels to a
blood vessel small enough to block its passage. The clot lodges there, blocking
the blood vessel and causing a stroke. About 15% of embolic strokes occur in
people with atrial fibrillation (Afib). The medical word for this type of blood
clot is embolus.
Thrombotic Stroke
A thrombotic stroke is caused by a blood clot that forms inside one of
the arteries supplying blood to the brain. This type of stroke is usually
seen in people with high cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. The medical
word for a clot that forms on a blood-vessel deposit is thrombus.
Two types of blood clots can cause thrombotic stroke: large vessel
thrombosis and small vessel disease.
Large Vessel Thrombosis
The most common form of thrombotic stroke (large vessel thrombosis)
occurs in the brain’s larger arteries. In most cases it is caused by long-term
atherosclerosis in combination with rapid blood clot formation. High
cholesterol is a common risk factor for this type of stroke.
Small Vessel Disease
Another form of thrombotic stroke happens when blood flow is blocked to
a very small arterial vessel (small vessel disease or lacunar infarction).
Little is known about the causes of this type of stroke, but it is closely
linked to high blood pressure.
Learn more about Strokes using this link:
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