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