Stroke — Overview, Symptoms, Treatments, and Other Resources.
Stroke: Challenges, Progress, and Promise at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes
A stroke is a sudden event affecting the brain's blood supply. In an ischemic stroke, a blood vessel that supplies the brain becomes blocked. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Although stroke is most common in older people, it can occur in individuals of any age, including young adults, children, infants, and fetuses in the womb. See more from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, National Institutes of Health.
About Stroke at the Internet Stroke Center of the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Find extensive information on strokes at the Internet Stroke Center of the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.
Information on Stroke from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center
Signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and more at UCSF Medical Center.
Information from the Stroke Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The Stroke Institute continues to lead as a provider of high-quality acute stroke management, and participates in progressive clinical research trials. The institute focuses on quality patient care using a multi-disciplinary approach, flourishing clinical research programs, and ongoing educational efforts for health professionals and community. Read more at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Quiz: The Stroke Quiz
Take the stroke quiz at the Stroke Center at the University of Virginia Health System.
Brochure: Know Stroke
This free brochure describes the importance of knowing the symptoms of stroke and acting immediately to get treatment. Read it at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
UPMC Patient Education Materials
Stroke: Emergency Treatment, Stroke: Medical Treatment, Stroke: Warning Signs Stroke: Risk Factors Stroke: TIA Facts, Stroke & TIA: Finding a Cause. See Patient Education Materials, developed by UPMC.
Better Stroke Treatment May Come from Physiological Determinations Rather than Time Frame, According to University of Pittsburgh Study
The study supports the theory that patient selection for acute stroke therapy based on physiology rather than on time may lead to expansion of the therapeutic window, improved outcomes and fewer side effects than currently achieved. See the UPMC press release.
Brain Stimulation Study May Help Stroke Survivors
Physicians at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center are participating in a multicenter study that may help stroke survivors gain greater use of their arms and hands by electrically stimulating the brain during physical rehabilitation. See the UPMC press release.
Video: Know Stroke: Know the Signs, Act in Time
Weakness on one Side. Trouble Speaking. Trouble Seeing. Trouble Walking. Know Stroke, Know the Signs, Act in Time. View the video from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, National Institutes of Health.
Video: Carotid angioplasty and stenting
View the video presented by the Mayo Clinic.
Podcast: Homocysteine lowering interventions for preventing cardiovascular events
Listen to a podcast from Cochrane Reviews.
Video: Emergency Stroke Care.
What are the risk factors for stroke, and how can I reduce those risks? What treatments are available for stroke? View videos at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Physical activity and exercise recommendations for stroke survivors.
Exercise is a normal human function that can be undertaken with a high level of safety by most people, including stroke survivors. However, exercise is not without risks, and the recommendation that stroke survivors participate in an exercise program is based on the premise that the benefits outweigh these risks. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Primary prevention of ischemic stroke: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council…
Each individual patient should have an assessment of his or her stroke risk (Class I, Level of Evidence A). The use of a risk-assessment tool such as the Framingham Stroke Profile should be considered as these tools can help identify individuals who could benefit from therapeutic interventions and who may not be treated based on any 1 risk factor (Class IIa, Level of Evidence B). See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Carotid endarterectomy — an evidence-based review. Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology.
Carotid endarterectomy (CE) is established as effective for recently symptomatic (within previous 6 months) patients with 70 to 99% internal carotid artery (ICA) angiographic stenosis (Level A). CE should not be considered for symptomatic patients with less than 50% stenosis (Level A). See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Guidelines for prevention of stroke in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. (2) Update to the AHA/ASA recommendations for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack.
The AHA/ASA Writing committee for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) has reviewed the results of recent trials that were published after their previous recommendations were issues. The 2 areas in which major new clinical trials have been published are (1) the use of specific antiplatelet agents for stroke prevention in patients with a history of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or TIA and (2) the use of statins in the prevention of recurrent stroke. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Diagnosis and initial treatment of ischemic stroke.
The recommendations for the diagnosis and initial treatment of ischemic stroke are presented in the form of three algorithms with 38 components, accompanied by detailed annotations. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Abstract: Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke.
The majority of strokes are due to blockage of an artery in the brain by a blood clot. Prompt treatment with thrombolytic drugs can restore blood flow before major brain damage has occurred. Successful treatment could mean that the patient is more likely to make a good recovery from their stroke. Thrombolytic drugs however, can also cause serious bleeding in the brain, which can be fatal. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Anticoagulants versus antiplatelet therapy for preventing stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack.
People with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (NRAF) who have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke are at risk of recurrent stroke. Both warfarin and aspirin have been shown to reduce the recurrence of vascular events. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Prior use of statins improves outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: prospective data from the National Acute Stroke Israeli Surveys (NASIS).
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a deadly form of stroke. Pretreatment with statins exerts protective effects in patients with ischemic stroke, but their effects in patients with ICH remains unclear. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Carotid angioplasty and stenting, success relies on appropriate patient selection.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is a percutaneous alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for treating patients with carotid artery stenosis. This study sought to evaluate whether patients at increased perioperative risk for CEA may be treated with CAS while maintaining equivalent outcomes. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison.
The risk of recurrent stroke is up to 10% in the week after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. Modelling studies suggest that urgent use of existing preventive treatments could reduce the risk by 80-90%, but in the absence of evidence many health-care systems make little provision. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Drug therapy for the secondary prevention of stroke in hypertensive patients: current issues and options.
Hypertension is the major risk factor for ischaemic and haemorrhagic clinical strokes as well as for silent brain infarcts with a continuous association between both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Acute stroke therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. Since then it has been severely underutilized. See Abstract at PubMed.
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ischemic Stroke
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Source: NIH
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Atrial Fibrillation Animation
Source: NIH
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