Stroke Prevention

The good news is that 80 percent of all strokes are preventable. It starts with managing key risk factors,
including high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, atrial fibrillation and physical inactivity. More than half
of all strokes are caused by uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure, making it the most
important risk factor to control.
Medical treatments may be used to control high blood pressure and/or manage atrial fibrillation among
high-risk patients. Those medicines include:

Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets
Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin and anticoagulants, such as warfarin, interfere with the
blood's ability to clot and can play an important role in preventing stroke. Read more about
anticoagulants.

Antihypertensives
Antihypertensives are medications that treat high blood pressure. Depending on the type of
medication, they can lower blood pressure by opening the blood vessels, decreasing blood
volume or decreasing the rate and/or force of heart contraction. Learn about the types of
antihypertensives.

Additionally, when arteries show plaque buildup or blockage, medical procedures may be needed. Such
as:

Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy, also called carotid artery surgery, is a procedure in which blood vessel
blockage (fatty plaque) is surgically removed from the carotid artery.
View a detailed
illustration of carotid
endarterectomy (opens
in new window).

Angioplasty/Stents
Doctors sometimes use
balloon angioplasty
and implantable steel
screens called stents to
treat cardiovascular
disease and help open
up the blocked blood
vessel.

When a Stroke Occurs: Quick

Stroke Treatment Can Save
Lives
If youre having a stroke, its critical that you get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may
minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and prevent death.
There are two types of strokes: hemorrhagic or ischemic. An ischemic stroke occurs as a result of an
obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. It accounts for 87 percent of all stroke
cases. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and spills blood into brain
tissue. The most common cause for the rupture is uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
There are two other types of weakened blood vessels that also cause hemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms
and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Treatment differs depending on the type of stroke.
Ischemic Stroke Treatment

tPA, the Gold Standard

The only FDA approved treatment for ischemic strokes is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, also known
as IV rtPA, given through an IV in the arm). tPA works by dissolving the clot and improving blood flow to
the part of the brain being deprived of blood flow. If administered within 3 hours(and up to 4.5 hours in
certain eligible patients), tPA may improve the chances of recovering from a stroke. A significant number
of stroke victims dont get to the hospital in time for tPA treatment; this is why its so important to identify
a stroke immediately.