What type of stroke is characterized by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain?

The correct answer is Ischemic stroke, which is characterized by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. This blockage can be due to a clot forming in an artery that is narrowed by atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits) or from a clot that travels from another part of the body (which is known as an embolism). Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, accounting for about 87% of all strokes.

In contrast, a hemorrhagic stroke involves bleeding in or around the brain due to the rupture of a blood vessel, which leads to increased pressure and damage to brain tissue. Transient strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), are temporary episodes of neurological dysfunction caused by a brief reduction in blood flow to the brain, but they do not cause permanent damage. Lastly, "ischemia stroke" is not a recognized medical term. Understanding these distinctions highlights why Ischemic stroke is the focus of the question regarding blockages in blood vessels supplying the brain.