Treatment

If you or a loved one are having symptoms of a stroke, don't delay. Call 911 immediately.

To prevent brain damage and permanent disability, blood flow must be restored quickly. Every second counts. The faster you can get to the hospital, the sooner doctors can help restore blood flow to the brain. This usually is done by giving a medication (tissue plasminogen activator) to dissolve, or break up, the blood clot. The medicine needs to be given within four and a half hours from the start of symptoms.

Some patients may qualify for a procedure (mechanical thrombectomy) to manually remove the clot.

Other medicines can help prevent another stroke.

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Some strokes are mild, but others can lead to severe brain damage – even early death. How stroke affects someone will depend on where the stroke occurred and how quickly treatment is given, as well as factors including their age and overall health.

Stroke can lead to:

• Paralysis (being unable to move parts of the body)
• Problems with balance or weakness on one side
• Loss of speech
• Impaired judgment or behavior
• Memory loss
• Issues with bladder or bowel function
• Difficulty swallowing
• Emotional disturbances

If you've survived a stroke, there are ways to regain lost function and relearn skills. Rehabilitation can help and may include a combination of physical, occupational and speech therapy. The goal is to give you the best possibly recovery.