Strokes are usually treated by specialist surgeons called Neurosurgeons.
The right treatment depends on what kind of stroke you are having. You need to get to the hospital very quickly to figure this out.
At the hospital, the doctors will do tests to confirm that you are having a stroke and figure out what type of stroke it is. This involves imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI, which create pictures of the brain.
People whose strokes are caused by clogged arteries can:
- Get treatments that help reopen the arteries. These treatments can help you recover from the stroke.
- Get medicines that prevent new blood clots. These medicines also help prevent future strokes.
People whose strokes are caused by bleeding can:
- Have treatments that might reduce the damage caused by bleeding in or around the brain
- Stop taking medicines that increase bleeding
- Have surgery or a procedure to treat the blood vessel to prevent more bleeding
Can strokes be prevented?
Many strokes can be prevented, though not all. You can greatly lower your chance of having a stroke if you:
- Take your medicines exactly as directed. Medicines that are especially important to help prevent a stroke include:
- Blood pressure medicines
- Medicines which lower cholesterol
- Medicines to prevent blood clots
- Medicines that help keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible (if you have diabetes)
- Make lifestyle changes:
- Stop smoking, if you smoke.
- Get regular exercise (if your doctor says that it’s safe) for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
- Try to lose weight, if you are overweight.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and low in meats, sweets, and refined grains (such as white bread or white rice).
- Eat less salt (sodium).
- If you drink alcohol, limit the amount:
-For females, no more than 1 drink a day
-For males, no more than 2 drinks a day
Another way to prevent strokes is to have surgery or a procedure to reopen clogged arteries in the neck. This type of treatment is appropriate for only a small group of people.
