Stroke Prevention
Stroke prevention reduces the chance of a first or repeat brain infarct or haemorrhage by addressing individual causes and modifiable risks. The correct plan depends on diagnosis, not a general list of blood-thinning medicines.
Key takeaways
- Previous stroke or TIA, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and artery disease influence risk in different ways.
- Antiplatelets are used for selected arterial causes, while anticoagulants have a distinct role in conditions such as atrial fibrillation.
- Bleeding history, kidney function, interactions and adherence affect medicine choice; combining clot-prevention drugs can be dangerous.
Catalogue matches do not calculate stroke risk or indicate a safe antiplatelet, anticoagulant or blood-pressure regimen.
Why must the stroke mechanism be known?
Large-artery plaque, small-vessel disease, heart embolism and brain bleeding require different prevention. Imaging, rhythm assessment and other tests help avoid treatment that is ineffective or increases bleeding risk.
What may a prevention plan include?
Care may address blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, activity and sleep apnoea. Apixaban has selected roles for embolic-risk conditions such as AF, with dose and suitability guided by age, weight, kidney function and interactions.
When to seek urgent care
Call emergency services for sudden facial droop, one-sided weakness or numbness, speech or vision change, loss of balance, confusion or thunderclap headache—even if symptoms resolve.
Related articles
Understand how antiplatelet and anticoagulant medicines act on different parts of clot formation, and why indication and duration matter.
Read guide