Stroke Prevention

Stroke Prevention

The good news is that 80 percent of all strokes are preventable. It starts with managing key risk factors, including high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, atrial fibrillation and physical inactivity. More than half of all strokes are caused by uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure, making it the most important risk factor to control.

Medical treatments may be used to control high blood pressure and/or manage atrial fibrillation among high-risk patients. Those medicines include:
Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets
Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin and anticoagulants, such as warfarin, interfere with the blood's ability to clot and can play an important role in preventing stroke.

Antihypertensives
Antihypertensives are medications that treat high blood pressure. Depending on the type of medication, they can lower blood pressure by opening the blood vessels, decreasing blood volume or decreasing the rate and/or force of heart contraction. Learn about the types of antihypertensives.
Additionally, when arteries show plaque buildup or blockage, medical procedures may be needed. Such as:

View a detailed illustration of carotid endarterectomy (opens in new window)Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy, also called carotid artery surgery, is a procedure in which blood vessel blockage (fatty plaque) is surgically removed from the carotid artery.
View a detailed illustration of carotid endarterectomy (opens in new window).

Angioplasty/Stents
Doctors sometimes use balloon angioplasty and implantable steel screens called stents to treat cardiovascular disease and help open up the blocked blood vessel