How long a 50-year-old woman with a cerebral ischemic focus can live is not generalizable and is mainly related to the size and location of the ischemic focus, the underlying disease and the individual’s physical condition. Cerebral ischemic foci are not a clinical diagnosis, but an imaging concept, commonly described by brain magnetic resonance examination. If the ischemic foci are small and non-vital sites, patients with mild or no clinical symptoms, sometimes with only mild dizziness, usually do not affect their life expectancy, but require oral aspirin, atorvastatin calcium and other drugs for secondary prevention. If the ischemic foci occurring acutely are large and located in important areas, such as the brainstem, they usually cause functional impairment and can be life-threatening in severe cases, requiring urgent medical attention. Therefore, the prognosis of a 50-year-old woman with a cerebral ischemic focus is related to the location and size of the ischemic focus. Long-term medication is required to prevent secondary seizures.