Once they reach the hospital, some people having an ischemic stroke may be given a thrombolytic drug, which helps to break up a blood clot. People having hemorrhagic strokes are sometimes taken for surgery to repair the cause of bleeding. New drugs designed to limit the damage caused by stroke are being tested in some hospitals. Once the stroke has ended, the patient will probably require a rehabilitation program to help re-establish at least some of the lost brain and body function. The person will also begin a medical regimen designed to prevent another stroke.
Smoking cessation is especially important.
Some people who have had a stroke undergo a surgical procedure called an endarterectomy. In this operation, atherosclerotic deposits are removed from the patient s neck artery to improve blood flow to the brain. Eliminating risk factors is a major element in stroke prevention. If you have had a stroke, follow your doctor s recommendations carefully. Chapter 32, Cerebrovascular Disease.