Ischemic Stroke is defined as?

• A. Clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain
• B. Bleeding into brain tissue
• C. Blockage of blood vessels in the chest
• D. Inflammation of brain tissue

Answer: (A)

Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks a blood vessel that supplies the brain, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to that brain region. The brain relies on continuous blood flow; when perfusion is interrupted, nerve cells cannot produce energy, fail to maintain their ion balance, and begin to die in the area served by the blocked vessel. This description fits a clot obstructing a brain vessel. It’s different from a hemorrhagic stroke, where bleeding into brain tissue is the problem. The other options describe bleeding, a blockage in a part of the chest, or inflammation, none of which capture the vascular occlusion in the brain that defines this condition.