|
Treatment overview
Stroke is a medical emergency. Especially if you or loved ones are at risk of stroke, it is vital to know the warning signs of a stroke so that you can seek out prompt emergency medical care.
Doctors today have a range of options to draw from when tailoring treatment for patients. In the acute phase of treatment they can administer drugs that minimize damage to the brain. Clot dissolvers, such as thrombolytic agents, are most effective when used within three hours of a thrombotic or an embolic stroke. There also are new treatments in the pipeline: Clinical trials are underway on several drugs designed to protect brain tissues after a stroke occurs. Further, preliminary studies with techniques that chill the brain have shown that inducing hypothermia may reduce stroke damage.
Doctors also have at their disposal a number of medications to help ward off strokes in high-risk patients, particularly those who have experienced transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or "ministrokes." These include anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin, and antiplatelet agents, including aspirin, dipyridamole, and clopidogrel.
Interventional procedures, too, can help patients with certain conditions that result from or often lead to strokes. For years, doctors "clipped" aneurysms to prevent further bleeding. However, more recently they have honed a number of more sophisticated techniques, including introducing coils into the aneurysms that can prevent rupture without the risks of brain surgery.
This section includes information on:
|
