{"meta":{"status":200,"messages":[],"pagination":{"max":1,"offset":0,"count":1,"total":1,"pageNum":1,"totalPages":1,"sort":null,"currentUrl":"https://api.digitalmedia.hhs.gov/api/v2/resources/media.json?offset=0&max=1&ignoreHiddenMedia=1&format=json&id=4273&newUrlBase=https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/","nextUrl":null,"previousUrl":null}},"results":[{"content":"
\nA stroke requires emergency care. You will probably receive treatment in a specialized stroke unit of the hospital. A team of specialists will oversee your care. Treatment will depend on whether the stroke was ischemic or hemorrhagic, how much time has passed since symptoms began, and whether you have other medical conditions.
\n\n
This animation discusses different treatments for stroke. Treatment for a stroke depends on whether it is ischemic or hemorrhagic but may include medicines or a procedure. Medical Animation Copyright \u00a9 2023 Nucleus Medical Media, All rights reserved.
\nTreatment for an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic (TIA) may include medicines and medical procedures.
\nMedicines
\nThe main treatment for an ischemic stroke is a medicine called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). It breaks up the blood clots that block blood flow to your brain. A doctor will inject tPA into a vein in your arm. This type of medicine must be given within 3 hours after your symptoms start. In some cases, it is given up to 4.5 hours. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances of recovery.
\nIf you cannot have tPA, your doctor may give an anticoagulant or blood thinning medicine, such as aspirin or clopidrogrel. This helps stop blood clots from forming or getting larger. The main side effect of these medicines is bleeding.
\nMedical procedures
\nYou may need a procedure to open up blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the brain. This can be done several ways.
\nA thrombectomy removes the clot from the blood vessel. A surgeon will put a long, flexible tube called a catheter into your groin (upper thigh) and thread it to the blocked artery in your neck or brain. They will then use angioplasty and stenting or a device called a stent retriever to open up the blocked artery.
\nIf carotid artery disease caused your stroke, your doctor may suggest carotid endarterectomy, a surgery to remove plaque from the carotid artery in your neck. Visit our Carotid Artery Disease Health Topic to learn more about how these procedures work.
\nHemorrhagic stroke can happen suddenly and grow worse quickly. Just as with an ischemic stroke, getting treatment as quickly as possible is essential for a full recovery. The type of treatment you receive depends on what part of your brain is bleeding and how severe it is.
\nMedicines
\nYou may be given blood pressure medicine to lower the pressure and strain on blood vessels in the brain. You will also be taken off any anticoagulant or blood-thinning medicines that may have led to bleeding. Depending on the type of medicine you were taking, you may be given vitamin K to help stop bleeding.
\nMedical procedures
\nProcedures may include:
\nIn addition to treating the blockage or bleeding causing the stroke, your healthcare team may suggest additional treatments or tests.
\nStroke is a life-threatening condition that can cause severe disability. palliative care or hospice care may help some patients have a better quality of life with fewer symptoms.
\n