Stroke

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Care & Treatment

Stroke is a life-threatening situation. Call 911 or go directly to the hospital if you have stroke or TIA symptoms. Do not drive yourself.

The healthcare team at the hospital will start treatment as soon as they check your condition.

General Medical Support

Someone with stroke symptoms may receive many of these supports:

  • Oxygen
  • An IV (intravenous) line to prevent or treat dehydration
  • Medicines to control problems like high blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar, infection, or atrial fibrillation.

Treatments for Blood Clots

If a blood clot is causing the stroke, or there is a risk of more clots, the person may get a blood thinner such as aspirin, heparin, or warfarin.

Emergency doctors may also use a clot-dissolving drug called recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Whether rt-PA is used depends on:

  • Age. People age 80 and over are less likely to get rt-PA.
  • When the person arrived at the hospital. rt-PA works best when given within three to five hours of the first symptoms.
  • Whether the person can move around.
  • If there is a risk of bleeding, rt-PA and blood thinners will probably not be used.

Carotid Surgery

This surgery is for people whose carotid arteries have become too narrow because of atherosclerosis. The surgery is called carotid endarterectomy. It removes the narrowed areas and restores full blood flow to the brain.

Other Surgeries

Other surgeries may also be options. They include:

  • Removing the blood clot from the brain or from blood vessels that lead to the brain. This is done when the clot is easy to find and remove.
  • Placing small "stents" to keep narrowed blood vessels open.

Short-term Therapy

After the person is stable, treatment focuses on:

  • Getting enough fluids
  • Controlling high blood pressure, if needed
  • Treating any heart disease
  • Starting long-term blood thinner therapy, if needed
  • Checking if the person has any trouble swallowing

Long-term Therapy

If a person takes blood thinners after a stroke, they will usually need them for at least a few months. Regular blood tests will be needed to check for side effects.

Rehabilitation

Most people who have had a stroke can benefit from rehabilitation (rehab) therapy. This is often done at a facility that specializes in stroke recovery. Support may include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy (help relearning daily activities)
  • Speech therapy
  • Swallowing therapy

Prognosis

After a stroke, people may experience:

  • Paralysis or weakness in some muscles, often only on one side of the body or face. This can cause falls and trouble getting around.
  • Difficulty speaking or swallowing.
  • Memory loss, confusion, trouble understanding things, or dementia.
  • Sensory changes, including pain, numbness, tingling, or unusual reactions to temperature.
  • Depression, behavior changes, and mood changes - including pulling away from others, trouble with daily self-care, and poor nutrition.

Every stroke is different, and recovery looks different for each person. Good physical health before the stroke can help a person recover better.

  • For many people, disabilities slowly get better over weeks, months, or even years.
  • About half of people who have had a stroke are able to live on their own at home.
  • About two-thirds of people who have strokes will have a long-term disability.
  • Many people will need long-term care, sometimes in a nursing home.

 

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026 
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers

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