Preventing Another Stroke

At the UC San Diego Health Stroke Center, we work closely with you to reduce your risk of another stroke and support your long-term recovery.

Your care begins with a comprehensive review of your medical history and a detailed neurological and physical examination. We explain your test results clearly and discuss any clinical trial opportunities that may be suitable for you. Using this information, we create a customized prevention plan tailored to your specific risk factors and previous treatments.

Stroke prevention involves three main strategies:

Lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors
Medications to manage risk factors and help prevent blood clots
Surgical procedures to remove blockages in arteries that could lead to a stroke

Stroke Treatment and Prevention

Learn about the advanced procedures we use to treat stroke and help prevent recurrence. Our team provides rapid, specialized care to restore blood flow, protect brain function, and lower the risk of future stroke.

Find Treatment Options

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Lifestyle Modification

You may need to modify the following stroke risk factors to reduce your chances of having another stroke:

Tobacco use
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Being overweight or obese
Alcohol consumption

Stroke Prevention Medications

UC San Diego Health stroke researchers have helped lead several national studies to identify medications that prevent strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).

Some medications work by reducing the blood's ability to clot, often by preventing platelets from sticking together. Aspirin is the most commonly used example. Other medications in this category, such as clopidogrel and ticlopidine, have also been proven to help prevent stroke.

Another type of medication, including warfarin (Coumadin), works differently by targeting specific clotting proteins in the blood. These medications can provide similar protection against stroke as aspirin, but they are typically used only for certain types of stroke risk.

This is one reason why undergoing a stroke prevention evaluation is important if you have risk factors for stroke.