Research is being done to explore better clot-dissolving drugs that can be used immediately after an ischemic stroke. New surgical techniques are also being explored that may prevent strokes in some people. Rather than opening up the skull, aneurysms and blood clots may be able to be approached internally through the blood vessels for treament and prevention.

In addition, treatment using microsurgery, grafting new blood vessels to provide a new route for blood supply to the brain tissue, and using a tubular wire mesh that can help hold a narrowed blood vessel open are all being explored.

Once a stroke has occurred, medications to minimize brain damage must be administered within the first three hours. This is why, if you suspect a stroke, you should go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Treatment and rehabilitation after you have had a stroke may involve work with many health care specialists including physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers and speech/language specialists. Recovery from a stroke can vary a great deal from person to person. For some people, the effects of the stroke are negligible and full recovery is possible. For others, full recovery may never occur and rehabilitation could take months or years.

Diagnosis concerning the specific type of stroke, its location, and how severe the damage is, can be determined by using a number of advanced imaging tests including Computerized Tomography (CT) Scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

There are two major categories of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic. 80% of strokes are ischemic, in which there is a blockage of blood flow to the brain.

Ischemic strokes can occur when a blood clot forms in a blood vessel in the brain or neck. Blood clots can also travel from other parts of the body, such as the heart, to the neck or brain and cause a stroke.

Finally, a blood vessel that is extremely narrowed can cause an ischemic stroke.

The second category of stroke, hemorrhagic, accounts for approximately one out of five strokes and is caused by a blood vessel breaking and leaking blood in or around the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke is associated with a higher death rate than ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhage can occur from a weak or thinned out area on the artery wall that balloons out over time, and then ruptures. Arteries that have plaque can become brittle and thin and can also break.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the primary cause of disabilities in adults. Throughout the country, strokes occur at the rate of one per minute. More than 700,000 Americans experience a stroke each year and more than 157,000 of those will die. The estimated cost of stroke to the nation each year is 57.9 billion dollars.

Strokes can occur at any age (even before birth). However, people over age 65 experience almost three fourths of all strokes. The death rate from stroke in African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians.