By Jacque Wilson, CNN
updated 8:00 AM EST, Sun February 17, 2013
In an ischemic stroke, a blockage in a blood vessel stops essential oxygen and nutrients from reaching the brain.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
(CNN) -- A stroke is a very scary thing: A vessel carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked or bursts, leaving the brain deprived of the essential oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. In the minutes following a stroke, brain cells begin to die.
Strokes are the No. 1 cause of disability and the No. 4 cause of death in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. But knowing the risk factors and symptoms of a stroke can play a huge role in reducing the potentially devastating effects.
Types of strokes
There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic, according to the stroke association.
Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all stroke cases. When a blood vessel becomes blocked by fatty deposits, blood has trouble passing through to the brain. An ischemic stroke is caused by this obstruction.
A thrombotic ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms at the blocked part of a vessel. An embolic ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms at another spot in the body and travels to a vessel in the brain that's too small to let it pass.
Continue reading here:
What happens during a stroke