Topic overview

Start with the big picture

Ischemic stroke results from arterial occlusion, including thrombosis over atherosclerotic plaques, emboli that lodge in cerebral vessels, or reduced blood flow. Small penetrating-vessel infarcts can produce characteristic motor or sensory syndromes. The tissue response evolves over time, and hemorrhagic transformation is an important complication after reperfusion. Hemorrhagic stroke includes deep intracerebral bleeds often associated with chronic hypertension and subarachnoid hemorrhage, classically caused by rupture of a berry aneurysm. These conditions differ in their mechanisms, locations, and complications. The broader lesson also addresses transient ischemic attack, stroke imaging, vascular-territory syndromes, prognosis, and secondary prevention, connecting core pathology with clinical recognition and management.