Stroke Treatment & Prevention
A stroke is a medical emergency caused by a clot or a bleed cutting off blood to the brain. Acute care in a stroke unit aims to restore blood flow fast, while later care focuses on rehabilitation and secondary prevention. FHI supports planned prevention work-ups, rehabilitation and second opinions for international patients.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, either by a clot blocking an artery (ischaemic stroke, the most common type) or by bleeding into or around the brain (haemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischaemic attack, or TIA, is a brief “mini-stroke” that serves as an important warning sign. In the acute phase, time is brain: treatment in a dedicated stroke unit can include clot-busting medicine (thrombolysis) and, for suitable patients with a large-vessel clot, mechanical clot removal (thrombectomy). Once the patient is stable, care shifts to secondary prevention — controlling blood pressure, antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicines, managing cholesterol and diabetes, assessing the carotid arteries and the heart (for example for atrial fibrillation) and supporting lifestyle change — alongside neuro-rehabilitation to help regain movement, speech and independence.
Important: an acute stroke is a medical emergency that needs immediate local care — call your local emergency number straight away and do not travel for treatment. International travel is appropriate only for planned care once you are stable. FHI's coordinators support international patients seeking stroke-prevention work-ups, structured rehabilitation programmes and second opinions: we can arrange a remote review of your scans and records before you travel, plan your visit, and provide a transparent, itemised cost estimate tailored to your situation.
Who is a candidate?
- You have had a stroke or TIA and want a structured secondary-prevention plan to reduce the risk of another event
- You are stable after the acute phase and are seeking a comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation programme
- You have risk factors such as high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, high cholesterol or carotid narrowing and want a formal risk assessment
- You would like an expert second opinion on your diagnosis, imaging or current treatment plan
- You want carotid and cardiac assessment to identify a treatable source of stroke
- You are not in the middle of an acute, sudden-onset stroke — if you are, this needs emergency care where you are, not planned travel
What happens
- 1
Assessment & imaging
A neurologist reviews your history and examination and arranges the right tests — brain imaging (CT or MRI), imaging of the neck and brain vessels, heart assessment (including rhythm monitoring for atrial fibrillation) and blood tests — to confirm the stroke type and identify why it happened.
- 2
Acute treatment (stroke unit)
In the acute phase, eligible patients are treated in a dedicated stroke unit. Depending on the type and timing of the stroke, this may include clot-busting medicine (thrombolysis) and, for a large-vessel clot, mechanical clot removal (thrombectomy), together with close monitoring and supportive care. This phase must happen at your nearest emergency hospital.
- 3
Secondary prevention
Once the cause is understood, the team builds a personalised prevention plan: blood-pressure control, antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication, cholesterol and diabetes management, treatment of carotid narrowing where appropriate, and clear guidance on diet, activity, smoking and alcohol.
- 4
Rehabilitation & follow-up
A multidisciplinary rehabilitation team — physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy as needed — works to restore function and independence, with structured follow-up to track progress and adjust medication and goals over time.
Benefits
- Care organised around dedicated stroke-unit principles and a multidisciplinary team
- A clear, personalised secondary-prevention plan to lower the risk of another stroke
- Thorough investigation of the underlying cause, including vessel and heart assessment
- Comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation to support recovery of movement, speech and daily function
- Remote review of scans and records before travel, so planning is informed and realistic
- A single coordinator and a transparent, itemised cost estimate for international patients
Risks & considerations
- Outcomes depend heavily on stroke type, severity and how quickly acute treatment was given — recovery cannot be guaranteed
- Clot-busting medicine and clot removal carry a risk of bleeding and are only suitable for selected patients within specific time windows
- Blood-thinning medicines used for prevention can increase the risk of bleeding and need monitoring
- Some neurological deficits may be permanent despite optimal treatment and rehabilitation
- There is always a risk of a further stroke, even with good prevention; the aim is to reduce, not eliminate, that risk
- Procedures such as carotid treatment carry their own specific risks, which the team will discuss with you
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Neurological Sciences Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Stroke Treatment & Prevention — frequently asked questions
Treat it as an emergency. If you or someone else suddenly has a drooping face, weakness in one arm, slurred speech or any sudden neurological symptoms, call your local emergency number immediately — do not wait and do not travel abroad. Acute stroke is time-critical, and the fastest possible treatment at your nearest hospital gives the best chance of recovery. FHI supports planned care after you are stable, not emergency treatment.
After a stroke or TIA, we focus on secondary prevention: identifying and treating the underlying cause and reducing your risk factors. This typically includes controlling blood pressure, antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicines, managing cholesterol and diabetes, assessing and treating carotid narrowing or heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, and supporting lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and stopping smoking.
Yes. For patients with risk factors or a previous stroke or TIA, we can arrange a structured work-up — neurological assessment, brain and vessel imaging, heart and rhythm evaluation and blood tests — to estimate your risk and build a personalised prevention plan. This is planned, outpatient-style care that international patients can travel for.
It depends on what you need — a prevention work-up, a rehabilitation programme or a second opinion each differ in scope and length. After reviewing your records, your coordinator provides a transparent, itemised estimate tailored to your situation, along with an expected length of stay. We do not quote a single fixed price up front, because care is personalised.
Yes. We encourage a remote review of your existing brain scans, vessel imaging and medical records before any trip. This lets our specialists confirm whether travel is appropriate, recommend the right pathway and give you a realistic plan and estimate before you commit to coming to Istanbul.
Related treatments
Considering stroke treatment & prevention?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.