Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for stroke prevention

by Emely Goyette MD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Risk-reduction measures in primary stroke prevention may include the use of antihypertensive medications, anticoagulants, platelet antiaggregants, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins), smoking cessation, dietary intervention, weight loss, and exercise.Dec 27, 2021

Medication

Treatment options include:

  • Emergency measures. If you take blood-thinning medications to prevent blood clots, you may be given drugs or transfusions of blood products to counteract the blood thinners' effects. ...
  • Surgery. ...
  • Surgical clipping. ...
  • Coiling (endovascular embolization). ...
  • Surgical AVM removal. ...
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery. ...

Procedures

  • Research health conditions
  • Check your symptoms
  • Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
  • Find the best treatments and procedures for you
  • Explore options for better nutrition and exercise

Therapy

  • Start the day off right with whole grain cereal or whole grain toast (if your cholesterol is high, choose oatmeal or oat bran cereal or toast).
  • Instead of fruit juice, have a whole piece of fruit.
  • For a fiber-packed lunch toss ½ cup garbanzo beans into a dark leafy green salad.

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Nutrition

How To Treat Stroke At Home – Brief Causes Of Stroke:

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure): is one of the leading risk factors of stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease: especially atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease
  • The previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks
  • Blowing sound of carotid artery does not show symptoms

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What is the best medicine for stroke prevention?

What is the best way to prevent a stroke?

What is the best diet for stroke prevention?

How to stop strokes naturally?

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How to reduce risk of stroke?

To decrease your risk of having another stroke or transient ischemic attack, your doctor may recommend a procedure to open up an artery that's narrowed by plaque. Options vary depending on your situation, but include:

How to evaluate stroke care?

One way to evaluate the care of patients diagnosed with stroke is to look at the percentage of patients receiving the timely and effective care measures that are appropriate. The goal is 100 percent.

What is the most common type of stroke?

The most common type of stroke – ischemic – is when a blood vessel is blocked and not enough blood flows to the brain. "Stroke can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.".

How to deliver tpa to brain?

Medications delivered directly to the brain. Doctors insert a long, thin tube (catheter) through an artery in your groin and thread it to your brain to deliver tPA directly where the stroke is happening. The time window for this treatment is somewhat longer than for injected tPA, but is still limited.

How does TPA help with stroke?

This drug restores blood flow by dissolving the blood clot causing your stroke. By quickly removing the cause of the stroke, it may help people recover more fully from a stroke. Your doctor will consider certain risks, such as potential bleeding in the brain, to determine if tPA is appropriate for you.

How long do you have to be monitored after a stroke?

After emergency treatment, you'll be closely monitored for at least a day. After that, stroke care focuses on helping you recover as much function as possible and return to independent living. The impact of your stroke depends on the area of the brain involved and the amount of tissue damaged.

What tests are needed for stroke?

That means you'll have a CT scan or other imaging test soon after arrival. Doctors also need to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as a brain tumor or a drug reaction.

What are the preventive measures for stroke?

Post-stroke preventive measures mainly focus on improving cardiovascular health. This might mean lowering your blood pressure and managing your blood sugar and cholesterol, or lipid, levels.

Why are statins used in stroke prevention?

These are used to thin your blood in order to reduce the risk of stroke in the future. Statins have also been shown to reduce the incidence of future stroke.

Why does hemorrhagic stroke cause swelling?

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a brain aneurysm bursts or a weakened blood vessel leaks. This causes blood to leak into your brain, creating swelling and pressure. Unlike ischemic strokes, treatment for hemorrhagic strokes doesn’t involve blood thinners. This is because thinning your blood would cause the bleeding in your brain to become worse.

How long does it take for a stroke to start?

They occur when a blood clot blocks blood flow to your brain. Medication treatment for this type of stroke must start within 4.5 hours of the event, according to 2018 guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA).

How does a stroke affect you?

How a stroke affects you depends on the location in your brain where the stroke occurs. Evaluation and treatment for a stroke should begin as soon as possible. The quicker emergency treatment begins, the greater the chance of preventing lasting damage. Treatment depends on the type of stroke you’re having.

Why do they remove plaque from the neck?

For this procedure, your surgeon will remove plaques and blockages from these arteries in order to improve blood flow and decrease the risk of future stroke.

What is the best medication to break up a clot?

Your doctor may also administer drugs to break up clots. A common intravenous (IV) drug is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). It’s given during an active stroke if the person is a good candidate. This medication works to stop a stroke by dissolving the clot that’s causing it.

When will stroke prevention start?

June 26, 2020. Stroke prevention can start today. Protect yourself and avoid stroke, regardless of your age or family history. What can you do to prevent stroke? Age makes us more susceptible to having a stroke, as does having a mother, father, or other close relative who has had a stroke.

How much weight can you lose to get a stroke?

If you're overweight, losing as little as 10 pounds can have a real impact on your stroke risk.

What are the factors that affect stroke risk?

1. Lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is a huge factor, doubling or even quadrupling your stroke risk if it is not controlled. High blood pressure is the biggest contributor to the risk of stroke in both men and women. Monitoring blood pressure and, if it is elevated, treating it, is probably the biggest difference people can make ...

Why do people ignore strokes?

Too many people ignore the signs of stroke because they question whether their symptoms are real. "My recommendation is, don't wait if you have any unusual symptoms," Dr. Rost advises. Listen to your body and trust your instincts. If something is off, get professional help right away."

How to reduce salt intake?

How to achieve it: Reduce the salt in your diet, ideally to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day (about a half teaspoon). Increase polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in your diet, while avoiding foods high in saturated fats.

What is the best blood pressure for vascular health?

Your ideal goal: Maintain a blood pressure of less than 120/80 if possible.

Does exercise help with stroke?

Exercise contributes to losing weight and lowering blood pressure, but it also stands on its own as an independent stroke reducer.

What is the treatment for a stroke?

Once under the care of a medical team, and diagnosis confirmed, a patient will receive emergency stroke treatment, which may include breathing support and IV fluids; medications to break up blood clots; medications and therapies to reduce brain swelling and protect the brain; and brain surgery to remove clots, reduce pressure or repair bleeds.

What is the most important part of stroke treatment?

The most important part of stroke treatment is getting it fast. acronym “FAST” is an easy way to remember the main symptoms to be aware of in order to help someone who may be having a stroke: face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Treatment Outcomes

Clinical Trials

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Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment is based on the type of stroke. For ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, medication or surgery or both can be recommended and for hemorrhagic stroke, surgery is recommended.
Medication

Clot dissolver: To dissolve clots and reopen arteries.

Plasminogen activator (tPA)


Anticoagulants: Has the effect of retarding or inhibiting the coagulation of blood.

Aspirin . Clopidogrel

Procedures

Catheter mediated intra-arterial thrombolysis: To attain reperfusion in case of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Angioplasty and stent placement: Widens the blocked artery and a stent is placed.

Aneurysm clipping: To treat a balloon-like bulge of an artery wall known as an aneurysm.

Coil embolization: To treat aneurysm that may have caused hemorrhagic stroke.

Carotid endarterectomy: To correct stenosis (narrowing) in the common carotid artery or internal carotid artery.

AVM removal: Carried out in case of hemorrhagic stroke.

Therapy

Rehabilitation:The rehabilitation is advised to start as early as possible upon recovery. Rehabilitation program will be decided as per the necessity and usually focuses on speech therapy; cognitive therapy; sensory and motor skills; and physical therapy.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Fruits and vegetables: eat plenty of fruit and vegetables; between 5-7 servings per day
  • Whole grain breads and cereals containing fiber and vitamins: They may reduce the risk of stroke
  • Lean protein: Limiting the amount of cholesterol is another important step in reducing the risk of another stroke
  • Choose low-fat meats or other protein
  • Limit salt: Eating too much salt/sodium may cause you to retain water and raise your blood pressure

Foods to avoid:

  • Heavy cholesterol foods
  • foods rich in salt and sugar
  • Alcohol

Specialist to consult

Neurologist
Specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.
Neuroradiologist
Specializes in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays and scanning devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system.
Occupational therapist
A healthcare professional who helps in development, recovery, or management of everyday activities, or occupations.
Speech therapist
A health professional who specializes in evaluating and treating voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders.
Physical therapist
A health professional who helps patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.

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