Which type of stroke is more common?

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, accounting for approximately 87% of all stroke cases. This type occurs when there is a blockage in an artery supplying blood to the brain, often due to a blood clot that forms either in the brain (thrombotic stroke) or travels from another part of the body (embolic stroke). The lack of blood flow leads to brain tissue damage, making timely medical intervention critical.

In contrast, hemorrhagic stroke, which results from the rupture of a blood vessel causing bleeding in or around the brain, is less common but often associated with higher mortality rates. Transitional stroke is not a recognized term in the classification of strokes, and while embolic stroke is a subset of ischemic stroke, it does not represent the overall prevalence of ischemic strokes. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms and the incidence of these various types highlights why ischemic stroke is the primary type encountered in clinical practice.