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    Diagnosis & Treatment

    Learn more about the steps doctors take to diagnose strokes, and what treatments they are likely to give to people in the emergency room and later on.

    1. Exams and Tests The first test after a stroke is typically a CT scan, a series of X-rays that can show whether there is bleeding in the brain.
    2. Identifying and Treating Stroke When a patient displays stroke-like symptoms, a doctor must not only confirm the symptoms but also identify the type of stroke, its location, and the extent of brain damage.
    3. Thrombolysis Thrombolysis, also known as thrombolytic therapy, is a treatment to dissolve dangerous clots in blood vessels, improve blood flow, and prevent damage to tissues and organs.
    4. Stroke Rehabilitation The best way to get better after a stroke is to start stroke rehabilitation ("rehab"). In stroke rehab, a team of health professionals works with you to regain skills you lost as the result of a stroke.

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