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Stroke

Treatment

A stroke is treated as an emergency. As soon as your doctor has diagnosed a stroke, it is important to prevent any further damage taking place.

Your blood pressure will be checked and if it is high, you will be given medication to lower it. The Royal College of Physicians recommends ACE inhibitors for controlling blood pressure in stroke patients.

If a blood clot has caused your stroke, you will be given medication to thin your blood to make it less sticky and less likely to clot. It will take a lot of time and effort to get better after a stroke, but in the days, weeks and months after your stroke, your brain will be working to rebuild damaged cells, and it will also be learning new ways of doing things that were previously done by the damaged cells.

If you have had a stroke, you are already at risk of it happening again. Make sure you take all your medicines exactly as your doctor prescribes, and make sure that your lifestyle is as healthy as possible.

If you smoke, stop now.
Eat at least five (but ideally seven to 10) portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day.
Cut down on salt, fats and sugars in your diet.
Take some moderate exercise every day (walking, swimming and cycling are ideal).
Lose weight if you need to.
If you drink alcohol, do not drink more than two to three units each day for men or one to two units each day for women. Don’t binge drink and make sure you have alcohol-free days in the week.

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