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Stroke & African Americans

- Summary
- About stroke and African Americans
- Risk factors and causes
- Signs and symptoms
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Prevention methods
- Questions for your doctor

Reviewed By:
Dongwoo John Chang, M.D.

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Diagnosis and treatment methods for stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency. Individuals experiencing symptoms of a stroke should call 9-1-1 immediately. Aspirin should not be presumptively taken for a stroke, as it could make a hemorrhagic stroke worse. Receiving rapid medical evaluation and treatment after a stroke can help to reduce stroke-related disability.

When a patient shows symptoms of a stroke, the physician will promptly evaluate the patient’s medical history and perform tests such as a computed axial tomography

(CAT) scan. The CAT scan can help the physician determine whether the patient is having a cerebral hemorrhage or an ischemic stroke caused by cerebral ischemia. This information determines the next step in emergency treatment. The CAT scan may also help the physician locate the exact position of the damage in the brain.

Stroke therapy relies on rapid treatment after the stroke to re-establish blood flow to the brain. Once the patient is stabilized, a complete evaluation of the effects of the stroke can take several days. People who survive a stroke often need to undergo treatment (e.g., stroke rehabilitation, physical therapy) to deal with some of the long-term effects of the event.

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Review Date: 05-07-2007

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