Types of stroke
There are three major types of stroke depending upon the mechanism involved in brain damage. These types have a different rate of occurrence and also require different treatment and medications. Identifying the type of stroke is therefore important to ensure recovery and prevent a recurrence. The imaging techniques discussed above can help identify each type.
Ischemic stroke
About 87% of all strokes are ischemic in type. An ischemic stroke is characterized by a clot that impedes the blood flow in the vessels to the brain. This clot can be locally formed in the brain or may have been dislocated from its original site into the cerebral vessels. The resultant cell starvation leads to brain tissue death in that region.