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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 22 No. 4 1999
Stroke in the era of evidence-based medicine
A stroke is an injury to the brain. It can be caused by bleeding in the brain or if the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked off.
Strokes are responsible for about 10% of all deaths in Australia. People who survive a stroke may be permanently disabled. As the Australian population gets older more people will have a stroke. Prevention is therefore important.
The risks of stroke may be reduced by a healthy lifestyle. People who smoke, have high cholesterol or suffer from high blood pressure are at risk of having a stroke.
People who have a stroke often have to go into hospital. A brain scan needs to be done to see what has caused the stroke. Most strokes are caused by a blockage in the blood supply. These patients are usually given aspirin to prevent further strokes.
