How Strokes Are Treated
A stroke is a medical emergency. Treatment works best when it begins as quickly as possible.
The right treatment depends on:
- The type of stroke
- Where the stroke happened in the brain
- How severe it is
- The person’s health history
- How much time has passed since symptoms began
Call 911 Right Away
If someone shows signs of a stroke, call 911 immediately.
Do not wait to see whether the symptoms go away. Do not drive the person to the hospital unless emergency services are not available.
Emergency medical teams can begin care on the way to the hospital and alert the stroke team before the patient arrives.
It is also important to know when the person was last seen acting normally. This helps doctors decide which treatments may be safe.
What Happens at the Hospital?
The medical team will quickly check the person’s symptoms, blood pressure, heart rate, medications and health history.
A brain scan, usually a CT scan, is used to find out whether the stroke was caused by:
- A blocked blood vessel
- Bleeding in or around the brain
This is important because the treatments are different.
This information is for general education and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health-care professional.
