Prevention includes decreasing risk factors,
surgery to open up the arteries to the brain in those with problematic
carotid narrowing, and
anticoagulant medication in people with
atrial fibrillation.
Aspirin or
statins may be recommended by physicians for prevention. Stroke is a medical emergency. Ischemic strokes, if detected within three to four-and-a-half hours, may be treatable with
medication that can
break down the clot, while hemorrhagic strokes sometimes benefit from
surgery. Treatment to attempt recovery of lost function is called
stroke rehabilitation, and ideally takes place in a stroke unit; however, these are not available in much of the world.
