Treatment and Prevention
It is very important to recognize the symptoms and seek medical assistance
immediately.
Preventing brain damage, disability, and aiding recovery depends on getting
treatment in the first few hours following a stroke. Brain cells that are
deprived of blood flow and oxygen for even just a few minutes will die.
Getting emergency medical assistance as soon as you experience symptoms
of stroke is critical because there are treatments that may be given to
help restore blood flow to the brain, prevent further tissue damage in the brain,
or prevent recurrent strokes. Studies show that as few as 2% of stroke patients
arrive at the hospital within the first 3 hours of a stroke to be eligible for
potential treatment with clot-dissolving medications.
Medications that may be used for the treatment of stroke include both short-term
and long-term medications.
Short-term treatments include using injections. Two types of injections
are:
- thrombolytics (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator, tPA), clot-dissolving
medications that aim to break up the blockage within the affected blood vessel
in an attempt to restore normal blood flow and limit damage to brain tissue.
These medications can only be used in selected patients within 3 hours after
the onset of symptoms and are given intravenously by trained health care professionals.
- anticoagulants (e.g., heparin), used in selected cases to decrease
the clotting ability of the blood. They do not dissolve blood clots that have
already formed, but may prevent clots from becoming larger and causing further
problems.
Long-term treatments include medications taken by mouth to reduce the risk
of recurrent strokes. These include:
- antiplatelets (acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine)
- anticoagulants or "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin)
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplements or over-the-counter
products, as these medications may increase the risk of bleeding while you are
taking medications for stroke.
Other important treatments to be considered for stroke prevention include:
- blood pressure-lowering medications
- cholesterol-lowering medications
- surgical procedures (e.g., carotid endarterectomy) in some people
Another way to prevent stroke and related long-term illnesses is to reduce
your risk factors with the following suggestions.
Modify your lifestyle:
- Stop smoking tobacco.
- Increase your level of physical activity.
- Limit your alcohol intake.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet.
Manage your medications and medical conditions:
- Take your medications as directed by your doctor and pharmacist.
- If you have high blood pressure, monitor your blood pressure regularly.
- If you have a heart condition such as congestive heart failure or atrial
fibrillation, take medications as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you have diabetes, use a monitor to check your blood sugar regularly.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.