Stroke Treatment Options

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Every second counts

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of long-term disability. In fact, one occurs every 45 seconds. When stroke symptoms occur, every minute counts. That’s why effective treatment delivered within the first three hours is critical to limiting a stroke’s damaging effects.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a premier provider of specialized treatment for stroke, providing comprehensive neurological care at the local and regional levels.

24/7 availability of specialized treatments

Emergency treatment options are time sensitive and dependent upon the type of stroke that is occurring. At Hackensack Meridian Health, all of our hospitals that house stroke centers are equipped to address the needs of you and your loved ones.

Ischemic Stroke
To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors must quickly restore blood flow to your brain. Quick treatment not only improves your chances of survival, but also may reduce complications. The only FDA-approved treatment for ischemic strokes is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is administered through an IV in the arm. tPA works by dissolving the clot causing the blockage and restoring blood flow to the brain. If tPA is administered within three hours of signs and symptoms, it may improve the chances of recovery.

Hemorrhagic Stroke
When blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked, a stroke may occur.  If a part of the brain is deprived of blood, it dies and no longer has functionality. A burst or ruptured aneurysm in the brain allows blood to go into the brain. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are tangled arteries and veins. For this, a surgeon may perform a surgical clipping, where they place a clamp to stop blood flow to keep it from bursting. Or, in some cases, they may use a surgical bypass procedure to treat poor blood flow to a particular area of the brain.