Stroke Prevention and Recognition
Once a stroke occurs, patients who arrive at the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms often have less disability three months afterward than those who received delayed care. Knowing what to look for can make the difference.
How You Can Stop Stroke Before it Starts
While a stroke can occur at any time to almost anyone, there are ways you can reduce your risk, starting today.
Control your high blood pressure.
You can control the single most important treatable risk factor simply by changing diet and exercise habits and taking medication if needed. The goal is to keep blood pressure below 130/80.
Manage your diabetes.
Diabetes can be managed with a combination of diet, exercise, and medications. The goal is to keep blood sugar levels (HgA1C) less than 7%
Stop smoking.
There are tools available to help smokers kick the habit that include medications that help remove the cravings and side effects of quitting.
Lower your cholesterol.
High cholesterol is one of the main causes of ischemic strokes. It can be managed by diet exercise, and medication.
Treat atrial fibrillation (a-fib).
A person with this type of irregular heartbeat is at risk for developing a blood clot in the heart, which can then travel to the brain and cause a stroke. A-fib is treated with blood thinners that make it harder for clots to form in the heart.
Get checked for carotid artery disease.
Fatty deposits/plaque can develop in the two large arteries that supply blood to the front of the brain and possibly decrease blood flow. A carotid endarterectomy [en-dahr-tuh-rek-tuh-mee] is a procedure used to remove plaque in these arteries.
Know the Warning Signs of a Stroke
The Stroke Treatment that Can Prevent Disability
Innovations in stroke diagnostics and treatment techniques are saving brains — and lives — and making it possible to reverse disability from stroke. Since most strokes are “ischemic,” or caused by a blood clot in the brain, the earlier we can use a procedure called thrombectomy to remove a clot and restore blood flow to the brain, the better our chances are of restoring brain function and preventing long-term disability.
7 Things to Know About How Stroke is Different for Women
Experts explain why stroke impacts women differently — and what they can do about it.
Strokes in Young Adults May be Caused More Often by Migraines, Other Nontraditional Factors
Research shows migraines and other nontraditional risk factors may be the leading driver of strokes in adults under 35.