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Generally, there are three treatment stages for stroke:
prevention; intervention during the acute phase (while
the stroke is in progress); and intensive care in the
critical hours and days following the stroke.
Some of the intervention treatments used for acute
stroke may also be employed in preventing it or its
recurrence. And some, such as age, family history or
ethnicity, cannot be controlled. But many of the most
effective preventive measures require little to no medical
intervention. Simple behavior modification and lifestyle
changes can work wonders in reducing a variety of risk
factors for stroke.
According to the American Stroke Association, more
than 80 percent of strokes could be prevented if people
recognized and eliminated or reduced their risks.
Once someone has suffered a stroke, he or she is automatically
at a higher risk of experiencing another. Damage from
the initial stroke can weaken portions of the patient’s
cerebrovascular system, making them more susceptible
to blockage or rupture. In addition, unless they are
eliminated or managed, the risk factor(s) that contributed
to the first stroke will most likely result in another.
People who have suffered a transient ischemic attack
(TIA) or “mini-stroke” are also at a higher
risk. While not a true stroke because the symptoms are
temporary, a TIA is the clearest warning a person can
get that a stroke may be imminent unless preventive
measures are taken immediately. About one-third of the
people who experience a TIA eventually will have an
acute stroke, according to the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
The mainstay of stroke prevention is risk-factor management.
Making lifestyle changes, following treatment plans
prescribed by a qualified medical professional, and
undergoing proactive medical procedures can decrease
the chances of suffering a stroke more than tenfold.
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Prevention
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