Diagnosing stroke quickly is crucial to treatment. Strokes caused by a blood clot require administration of a thrombolytic (clot-busting) medication within two hours of onset of the event.

The most common treatments for stroke depend on the type of event:

Treatments for hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) include either minimally invasive or open surgery to stop the bleeding.

Treatments for ischemic stroke (blood clot) include an anticoagulant medication (tPA) to dissolve the clot (thrombolytic therapy), a minimally invasive procedure to remove the clot, or a combination of these procedures.

Treatments for all types of stroke include rehabilitation after the event, medications to treat underlying conditions that may contribute to stroke, such as high blood pressure, and lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy diet and exercise plan.