How is a stroke managed medically?

    Written by:
    Marina Shkayeva

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo, Rob Stenstrom
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Stroke management involves 3 main categories: acute treatment during the stroke at the hospital, poststroke rehabilitation to address disabilities, and preventative treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence through medications and lifestyle changes. These approaches aim to mitigate the immediate effects of a stroke, support recovery, and promote long-term health.

    Medical treatments of stroke can be split up into 3 categories.[1]

    • Acute treatment is usually performed at the hospital to mitigate a stroke while it is happening; to learn more, see the CDC page for stroke treatments.
    • Post-stroke rehabilitation, to reduce disabilities after the stroke has been stopped, can include physical therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, and more.
    • Preventative treatments, to reduce stroke recurrence, includes various medications, and healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and lowering blood pressure and lipid levels.