Life After Stroke

INSTITUTIONS

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In 1950 The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is founded.

In the 1950s it was recognized that disease in the carotid arteries could also cause transient ischemic attacks that gave temporary weakness or blindness that resolved within a few hours, and this could be a warning sign for future stroke. Doppler ultrasound studies were first used to identify plaques and disease in the carotid arteries, and aggressive treatment of high blood pressure also was found to be very important

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TREATMENT AND THERAPIES

Melodic intonation therapy is developed as a technique to help stroke patients regain speaking skills.

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TREATMENT

Medical technological advances brought a wave of new treatments. Angiography, cerebrovascular surgery and anti coagulants were among the first.

Carotid endarterectomy is greatly improved but is used mostly for stroke prevention and there is still no effective treatment after an acute stroke.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Canadian Henry Barnett discovers that aspirin can prevent strokes in people at high risk, and can prevent recurrences in people who have had strokes.

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In the 1980s cigarette smoking is found to be a definite risk factor for stroke and smoking cessation programs become very important.

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