Anatomy of a stroke

Ischemic stroke	Hemorraghic stroke
Reprinted with permission © National Stroke Association

Just as arteries in the heart become clogged and result in a heart attack, arteries in the brain can become clogged and lead to a “brain attack,” or stroke. Ischemic strokes, the most common type, occur when blood vessels feeding the brain become clogged, preventing the normal flow of blood. The carotid arteries in the neck are a major source of blood to the brain.

In hemorrhagic strokes, the blood vessels in the brain burst. In both types of stroke, the brain is robbed of much needed oxygen and nutrients, and if left untreated, can cause irreparable damage.