What is the most common cause of a stroke?

Ischemic strokes are the most prevalent type, accounting for approximately 87% of all stroke cases. This category of stroke occurs when there is an obstruction in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain, leading to reduced blood flow and subsequent brain tissue damage. The obstruction can be caused by several factors, such as a clot forming in an artery (thrombotic) or a clot that travels from elsewhere in the body (embolic).

The thrombotic subtype, while significant, represents a specific mechanism of ischemic stroke. Meanwhile, hemorrhagic strokes occur due to bleeding into the brain, which is not as common as ischemic strokes. Overall, ischemic strokes are the primary concern in stroke-related medical scenarios, with the embolic and thrombotic types being specific pathways through which ischemic strokes can occur, but not the most common root cause in a broader context.

Understanding that ischemic strokes dominate the stroke landscape helps with diagnostics and treatment approaches in fields like orthotics and prosthetics, where knowledge of patient medical history, including stroke types, can influence rehabilitation and care strategies.