When To Call A Professional

If you or someone you are with develops any of the symptoms of stroke, you should call a doctor right away, call an ambulance or go to an emergency room. It is important to have an evaluation even if your symptoms last only a few minutes, because a transient ischemic attack (TIA) can be a warning sign of a coming stroke.

Prognosis

If the brain's blood supply is restored quickly and completely, the patient may recover with little or no disability. In patients with thrombotic strokes, early treatment with the clot-dissolving drug t-PA may reduce disability significantly. In patients with hemorrhagic strokes caused by blood vessel abnormalities in the brain, there is about a 2% to 3% chance for re-bleeding if the abnormality is not treated.

Additional Info

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke P.O. Box 5801 Bethesda, MD 20824 Toll-Free: (800) 352-9424 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

National Stroke Association 9707 East Easter Ln. Englewood, CO 80112-3747 Phone: (303) 649-9299 Toll-Free: 800-787-6537 Fax: (303) 649-1328 http://www.stroke.org/

American Heart Association (AHA) 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 Toll-Free: (800) 242-8721 Fax: (214) 706-2139 http://www.americanheart.org/