The American Heart Association notes that in 2006, 137,119 people died of a stroke, the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. When a person has a stroke, blood supply in the her brain becomes interrupted, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching the brain cells. The longer the wait period between the onset of the stroke and treatment, the more severe the brain damage can become.
Types of Stroke
MedlinePlus explains that two main stroke types exist. The first, an ischemic stroke, occurs when a blood clot prevents blood from reaching an area of the brain. A thrombotic stroke, a subtype of an ischemic stroke, occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery and completely blocks it. Another ischemic stroke subtype, an embolic stroke, occurs when a blood clot travels up to the brain and blocks an artery. The other main type of stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts, which causes bleeding in the brain.
Emergency Treatment
When a stroke patient enters the hospital, his doctor will start emergency treatment. With an ischemic stroke, the doctor will give the patient a drug that will break down the blood clot within 4 1/2 hours of the stroke. Examples of these drugs include aspirin, heparin, warfarin and clopidogrel. The patient may also receive an injection of tissue plasminogen activator in the brain or the doctor may remove the blood clot. If a patient has a hemorrhagic stroke, he cannot take aspirin or tissue plasminogen activator, as these medications can worsen the bleeding. Instead, he may take medications that lower his blood pressure or reduce vasospasm, which is the brain's reaction to the bleeding.
Long-Term Treatment
Since a patient can lose some brain functions after a stroke, she can benefit from rehabilitation. For example, if speech becomes affected by the stroke, the patient may undergo speech therapy. MedlinePlus notes that the patient may need to learn alternative forms of communication, such as using pictures, if she cannot speak. If the patient has problems moving, she can go to physical therapy. Occupational therapy teaches the patient how to use any supportive devices, such as a walker, and how to perform tasks on her own, such as getting in and out of a chair.
Prognosis
A patient's prognosis depends on the severity of the stroke and how quickly he received treatment. MedlinePlus explains that more than 50 percent of stroke patients can function on their own at home. Survival rates are higher in patients who suffered from an ischemic stroke compared to patients who had a hemorrhagic stroke.
Preventing Future Strokes
The National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out that 25 percent of stroke patients have a second stroke within five years. To prevent a future stroke, a patient may undergo a surgical procedure. For example, a patient may have an angioplasty done, in which the doctor enlarges the artery through inflating a balloon on a catheter and inserting a stent to keep the artery open. Another option is a carotid endarterectomy, in which the doctor surgically removes the plaques on the arteries. The MayoClinic.com notes that carotid endarterectomy may increase a person's risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
