Understanding Ischemic Stroke

A stroke is a "brain attack" that occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. An ischemic stroke is the most common type, accounting for about 87% of all strokes.

What is an Ischemic Stroke?

An ischemic stroke happens when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes blocked, typically by a blood clot. This blockage cuts off oxygen to a specific area of the brain, and brain cells begin to die within minutes.

Think of it like a heart attack, but in the brain. Just as a blocked artery in the heart can cause heart muscle to die, a blocked artery in the brain causes brain tissue to die.

What Causes an Ischemic Stroke?

There are two main mechanisms that cause a blockage:

1. Thrombotic Stroke (Cerebral Thrombosis):

   • A blood clot (thrombus) forms directly in an artery within the brain.

   • This is often due to a condition called atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits (plaque) build up in the arteries, narrowing them and making a clot more likely to form.

2. Embolic Stroke (Cerebral Embolism):

   • A blood clot or other debris (called an embolus) forms elsewhere in the body—usually the heart or large arteries of the neck—and travels through the bloodstream until it lodges in a narrower brain artery.

   • A common cause is Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood to pool and clot in the heart.

     Know the Signs and Symptoms: Act F.A.S.T.

     Stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute counts. Use the F.A.S.T. acronym to recognize the signs:

     • F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven?

     • A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

     • S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask them to repeat a simple sentence.

     • T - Time to Call Emergency Services: If you see any of these signs, even if they go away, call your local emergency number immediately. Note the time when the symptoms first appeared.

     Other Sudden Symptoms Can Include:

     • Sudden numbness or weakness in the leg.

     • Sudden confusion, trouble understanding.

     • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

     • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

     • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

       Key Risk Factors

       Some risk factors you cannot control, but many you can manage with lifestyle changes and medication.

       Non-Modifiable (You Can't Change These):

       • Age: Risk increases with age.

       • Gender: More common in men, but more women die from stroke.

       • Race: Higher risk for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans.

       • Family History: Risk is higher if a parent or sibling had a stroke.

       Modifiable (You Can Manage These):

       • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): The #1 controllable risk factor.

       • Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): An irregular heart rhythm.

       • High Cholesterol: Leads to plaque buildup in arteries.

       • Diabetes: Damages blood vessels over time.

       • Smoking: Damages blood vessels and increases clot formation.

       • Physical Inactivity & Obesity.

       • Carotid or Other Artery Disease.