Once stroke is occurred, there is no treatment that can completely reverse the damage caused by it. Given the disease irreversibility of stroke, prevention is an important concern and is doubtless best treatment. Two levels of preventions should be taken into account: primary and secondary prevention. Primary prevention means preventing the first stroke from occurring, like the followings which can be done to reduce the risk of developing a stroke.

• Control high blood pressure
• Stop smoking
• Control diabetes and high blood cholesterol
• Treat abnormal heart rhythms
• See a doctor when a TIA occurred
• Lead a healthy lifestyle, including exercising regularly and avoiding obesity

Primary prevention is less effective than secondary prevention (as judged by the number needed to treat to prevent one stroke per year). Secondary prevention signifies preventing another stroke after the patient has already suffered one or more strokes. This includes not only all the measures as mentioned before under the primary prevention but also taking prescribed medications to prevent another stroke.