The former president is being treated with anti-coagulants. A more troubling cause of stroke is the bursting of an artery in or leading to the brain due to high blood pressure in a weakened arterial wall. Surgery may be necessary in these cases. President Ford's doctors said they plan to keep him hospitalized for about five more days. They described his condition as serious but improving.
Many people do well following a stroke, and most improve somewhat or a lot.
However, a stroke patient's condition can deteriorate, and experts say the next 24 to 48 hours are critical for Ford. CNN Medical Correspondent Eileen O'Connor and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Pages will open in a new browser window External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.