What is an ischemic stroke?
A. An ischemic stroke is caused by atherosclerosis, or the build up of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits called plaque. As the plaque roughens the inside of an artery and the vessel begins to narrow, the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes disrupted. A thrombolic stroke is the most common form of ischemic stroke. It occurs when a clot, or thrombus, develops in arteries that have been narrowed by fatty buildup that has formed on the inner layers of the artery walls. The clot, when coupled with the narrowed arteries, combines to block blood from flowing. If the blockage has come from somewhere else, most likely the heart, it is called an embolic stroke. During an embolic stroke, a piece of thrombus breaks lose and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, thereby blocking blood flow. Exactly where in the artery the blockage occurs determines which part of the brain will be affected.
