Ischemic – caused by a blockage or blood clot in a blood vessel, cutting off blood supply to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke.

A blood clot can form and arterial plaque can break off anywhere in the circulatory system. If such a mass moves up to the brain and reaches a blood vessel too small for it to pass through, it can get stuck there. This is called an embolic stroke.

A thrombotic stroke refers to the situation in which a blood clot forms inside one of the arteries that bring blood to the brain, causing a blockage.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is commonly called a “mini-stroke”. It is a temporary blockage of blood to the brain and causes no long-term damage. Symptoms of a stroke may manifest themselves but will pass within a few minutes. It is critically important to see a healthcare provider if you think you may have experienced a TIA—it’s often a precursor to a full-blown ischemic stroke. (