Stroke
Prevention
Practising preventative medicine with regards to stroke is very important. In the United States and the UK, stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Preventative methods can be divided into medications and lifestyle changes.
Surgery
Surgery can be performed to reduce the fatty deposits in a person's carotid arteries. This surgery is known as carotid endarterectomy. It is often performed on people who have had a stroke and with narrowing (stenosis) of the carotid artery to reduce their risk of having a further stroke.
Medications
The main medications used to help prevent stroke are discussed in the table below:
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Aspirin
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This helps to prevent platelets in the blood from aggregating (clumping together). Platelets are involved in the formation of a blood clot. A doctor may prescribe this drug for daily use to reduce a person's risk of having a stroke.
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Clopidogrel
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As above.
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Dipyridamole
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As above.
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Ticlopidine
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As above.
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Warfarin
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This drug prevents the formation of proteins necessary for blood clotting and is known as an anticoagulant. Daily use can reduce the risk of stroke in certain patients, for example in people who have atrial fibrillation, a heart condition where the patient has an irregular heart rhythm where two of the chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver instead of pumping in an organised fashion.
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Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes may be adopted by an individual in order to reduce his/her risk of having a stroke. These may include dietary and exercise routine changes to reduce hypertension, and giving up smoking.
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