The timing matters
Stroke treatment is complicated.
The timing of different types of stroke treatment is crucial to achieving the best outcome.
Immediate stroke intervention often focuses on medical stabilization.
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Sometimes blood thinners can dissolve a blood clot.
Prompt medical care can reduce the severity of brain damage due to a stroke.
When the effects of a stroke have stabilized, management focuses onrehabilitationand stroke prevention.
This article describes the different types of stroke treatment and the sequence and timing of each key in.
Which Stroke Treatment Works Best?
The best treatment for one situation isnt the best for another situation.
Order of Stroke Treatment and Time Window
A stroke is a medical emergency.
Though a stroke often means a person will need long-term care, immediate treatment is crucial.
Getting prompt treatment for stroke symptoms can help prevent or reduce permanentbrain damage.
This can improve your ability to recover.
Do not delay getting emergency medical treatment.
Medical care can help maximize recovery and reduce the likelihood of lasting damage.
This can include:
Stroke recovery can be distressing.
Thats because one aspect of recovery is improved awareness of the stroke.
Rehabilitation and Coping
Your life may change significantly after a stroke.
The effects of a stroke vary widely.
Medication can often help if you have developed post-stroke pain, such as headaches or muscle aches.
Additionally, you may need to make some adjustments to your day-to-day life.
Getting a mental health evaluation after a stroke and starting treatment early can prevent your mental health from worsening.
Treatment may include counseling and medication.
Some people benefit more from counseling, some from medication, and some from a combination.
You and your healthcare providers can determine the most effective approach.
Prevention involves a combination of medication, procedures, or lifestyle adjustments.
Within the first few days after a stroke, medical management can help augment recovery.
Intravenous blood thinners may prove necessary during this time as well.
Preventing another stroke is also important and may require taking oral blood thinners and managing medical stroke risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and prevention.Treat and recover from a stroke.
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American Stroke Association.Stroke symptoms.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.
doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009389
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Stroke.
2020;51(8):2435-2444. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.028992
National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke.Atrial fibrillation and stroke.
