Stroke

About stroke

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a short warning episode that greatly increases the risk of a full stroke.

Symptoms

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side; trouble speaking or understanding; loss of vision; severe headache; or loss of balance. Remember “FAST”: Face, Arm, Speech, Time to call emergency services.

Diagnosis

Emergency CT or MRI distinguishes ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke. Vascular imaging, heart monitoring and blood tests then look for the cause, which guides prevention.

Treatment in China

• Acute treatment: intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy at stroke centers.
• Secondary prevention: antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, blood pressure and cholesterol control, tailored to the cause.
• Procedures: carotid stenting or endarterectomy, coiling or clipping of aneurysms, and treatment of arteriovenous malformations.
• Rehabilitation: physiotherapy, speech therapy and, in many hospitals, acupuncture alongside conventional rehabilitation.

Why patients choose China

Tiantan Hospital hosts the China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases. Its CHANCE trials, led by Wang Yongjun, showed that short-term dual antiplatelet treatment after minor stroke or TIA reduces the risk of a second stroke. In 2025 Wang Yongjun received the American Stroke Association’s Feinberg Award.