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Stroke is the most preventable cause of disability in the United States. More than 750,000 individuals will suffer from stroke each year, and of these more than 200,000 will be left with permanent disability.
The prevention of stroke may be thought of as a three-part process:
- Modification of lifestyle
- Selection of the appropriate prevention medications
- Surgical procedures to remove blockages in arteries that could lead to stroke
The following are risk factors for stroke and may be modified to lower your risk:
- Tobacco usage
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Being overweight
- Alcohol use
Stroke researchers at UCSD have led the country in several studies designed to identify medications that are most successful in the prevention of stroke and of TIA. Some drugs alter the ability of the blood to clot by preventing platelets from aggregating. Aspirin is the most common example, but two other agents, Clopidogrel and Ticlopidine also have been proven to prevent stroke. Another agent – aspirin in combination with Persantine – has been shown to be effective as well.
Coumadin or warfarin is a different type of agent that alters the ability of the blood to clot by interfering with certain proteins in the blood stream. Recently this agent was found to give the same protection against stroke as aspirin, but only in certain types of stroke. This is another reason to have a stroke prevention analysis completed if you have risk factors for stroke.
- Carotid artery surgery – Through participation in two pivotal NIH studies, the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial and the Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial, the researchers at UCSD helped to define when it is appropriate for a stroke patient to undergo carotid surgery in the hope of preventing a future stroke.
Some patients are born with an opening in between the two upper chambers of the heart (a patent foramen ovale), which does not close normally in development. This can lead to clots traveling to the brain resulting in stroke. Stroke specialists at UCSD work with cardiologists to identify which patients will benefit from a surgical procedure to close this defect and prevent a secondary stroke.
Personal Risk Analysis and Prevention
Weekly stroke prevention clinics are held by Dr. Brett Meyer and Dr. Patrick Lyden. Each patient receives:
- A careful review of his/her medical history, along with a thorough neurological and physical exam
- Review and explanation of all studies
- A complete and individualized plan of stroke prevention, taking into account risk factors, prior treatments and patient desire to participate in new, innovative stroke research.
Download a Stroke Self-Risk Assessment (Adobe PDF file).
To schedule an appointment, call (858) 657-8540.
Stroke Center
Perlman Ambulatory Care Center
9350 Campus Point Drive, Suite 1C
La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 657-8540 |