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In hospital, imaging (usually a CT scan) is used first to find out whether there is an infarction or a bleed, because the treatment is opposite. With an ischemic stroke the aim is to remove the clot as fast as possible:
With a bleed, other measures come first: lowering blood pressure, reversing any blood-thinning effect of medication, stopping the bleeding and, in some cases, surgery.
After a stroke, the risk of another one is increased. Secondary prevention is meant to prevent exactly that. Which medication is used depends crucially on the cause. This is the most important point that many guides leave out: a blood thinner is not just a blood thinner.
| Cause of the stroke | Drug group | Examples | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrial fibrillation (clot from the heart) | Anticoagulants | DOACs such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, dabigatran | Clots from the heart need stronger inhibition of blood clotting |
| Furred-up vessels (without atrial fibrillation) | Antiplatelet drugs | ASA (aspirin), clopidogrel | They prevent platelets from clumping on the vessel walls |
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Further building blocks almost always come on top: lowering blood pressure consistently, a statin against high blood lipids, managing diabetes well and stopping smoking. With a severely narrowed carotid artery, a procedure can also make sense.
Blood thinners and more: never miss a dose.
After a stroke, reliable daily intake is what matters. brite reminds you, warns about interactions and keeps your plan ready for your next appointment.
Get started for freeMany effects of a stroke partly recede over time, especially when rehabilitation starts early. The brain can reorganise tasks to some extent. Depending on the deficit, different therapies help:
Patience and regular practice are key. Relatives also play an important role.
A large share of strokes could be avoided through factors you can influence. What helps most:
The answer is simple: at any sudden sign from the FAST test, straight away. It is better to call the emergency number once too often than once too rarely.
Blood thinners, blood pressure tablets, a statin: after a stroke, several medications often come together. brite helps you keep track of everything.
Typical signs are a suddenly drooping corner of the mouth, weakness in one arm and disturbed speech, that is the FAST test. Sudden vision or balance problems and a very severe headache can also occur. At even one sign, call the emergency number at once (112, in the US: 911).
FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time. If the face droops on one side, one arm drifts down or speech is disturbed, a stroke is likely. Then every minute counts, so call the emergency number at once (112, in the US: 911).
In an infarction (about 85 percent), a clot blocks a vessel. In a bleed (about 15 percent), a vessel bursts. The treatment is opposite, which is why the hospital first uses imaging to find out which form is present.
A TIA is a transient circulation problem in the brain. The symptoms resemble a stroke but usually disappear within minutes to hours. A TIA is a serious warning sign of an impending stroke and must be checked just as urgently.
That depends on the cause. If atrial fibrillation was the trigger, an anticoagulant is used, often a DOAC such as apixaban. If furred-up vessels were the cause, an antiplatelet drug such as ASA or clopidogrel is used. The choice is always made by the doctor.
This varies a great deal. Some people recover fully, others are left with limitations. Early and consistent rehabilitation clearly improves the chances. How much returns depends on the extent and location of the stroke.
The most important lever is well-controlled blood pressure. Beyond that, treating atrial fibrillation, not smoking, regular exercise, a healthy diet and keeping an eye on blood lipids and diabetes all help.
Yes. A stroke is always an emergency that calls for an immediate call to the emergency number (112, in the US: 911), even with only temporary symptoms. The sooner treatment begins, the more brain can be saved.
