Description of Pathology: Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all stroke incidents, making this type of stroke the most common. Ischemic strokes occur as a result of a blood clot plugging or obstructing an artery carrying blood to the brain. This keeps oxygen and nutrient rich blood from flowing into the brain. If this blockage persists for more than a few minutes the brain cells may begin to die and serious damage can be done. Due to this, immediate medical treatment must be taken to minimize brain damage and potential complications. Ischemic stroke can be caused by various diseases. The most common problem is the narrowing of the arteries in the neck or head, often caused by atherosclerosis. …show more content…
Other causes of ischemic stroke include high blood pressure (hypertension), elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, and blood clotting disorders. There are two main types of ischemic stroke: thrombotic and embolic. Thrombotic strokes occur when an artery becomes blocked by a blood clot within the brain, clinically referred to as cerebral thrombosis or cerebral infarction. Thrombotic stroke can be further divided into large vessel thrombosis and small vessel thrombosis. An embolic stroke refers to the formation of a clot (or emboli) somewhere other than the brain, usually the heart. The emboli will travel in the bloodstream until it becomes lodged, this will restrict blood to the brain. Strokes can affect people of all ages. The risk of stroke increases with age and it is more common among African-Americans. Risk factors that can increase chances of stroke include, but are not limited to: diabetes, heart disease, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and illegal drug use.