Because narrow or blocked arteries cause ischemic stroke, the focus of the treatment is returning the normal blood flow to the brain. The treatment begins with medication that eliminates clots and prevents clot formation. Your doctor can also give patients blood thinners such as TPA, aspirin, or tissue plasminogen activator injection. 

TPA works well in removing clots. However, it needs to be administered within 4 ½ hours. Emergency treatments include administering TPA directly in a brain artery or physically removing the clot through a catheter. Research is currently being done to understand the advantages of these procedures. 

Other procedures can be done to lessen the occurrences of TIAs or strokes. For instance, carotid endarterectomy opens the carotid artery and removes the blockage.

Angioplasty is another option. A surgeon inflates a small balloon in a narrow artery using a catheter. Then, a stent or mesh tube is inserted in the opening to prevent the narrowing of the artery. 

For hemorrhagic stroke, the objective of the treatment is to control the bleeding and lessen brain pressure since there is leakage of blood there. The treatment also begins with medication that controls blood pressure and lessens the pressure in the brain. The medication also prevents seizures and sudden blood vessel constriction.