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A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing internal bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). Both types of stroke kill brain cells and cause permanent brain damage. (Click here to read more information on stroke risk factors.) When a stroke occurs, the victim should receive medical treatment as soon as possible – usually within the first few hours after the onset of the stroke.

Stroke treatments are delicate, complex and expensive, and may not be covered by standard health insurance. However, a critical illness insurance policy from CancerPlans.com provides a lump sum benefit upon first diagnosis of a stroke, giving you extra money to pay your medical bills. If you believe you may be at risk for a stroke, supplemental insurance can give you peace of mind about future treatment costs.

Here are the most common treatments for the two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Treatment for ischemic stroke: The goal of ischemic treatment is to destroy the clot that is keeping blood from the brain. Intravenous TPA treatment injects TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) into the bloodstream, eventually breaking up the clot and allowing blood to resume flow. Intravenous TPA is only effective for up to three hours after the onset of the stroke, so getting to the hospital quickly is vital! In contrast, the MERCI retriever (Mechanical Embolus Retrieval in Cerebral Ischemia) uses special equipment to physically remove the clot from the bloodstream.

Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke: Hemorrhagic stroke treatment tries to stop internal brain bleeding, either by repairing a damaged blood vessel (surgery for a ruptured aneurysm) or by removing an abnormal brain blood vessel (for instance,  an arterio-venous malformation {AVM} or a cavernous malformation) that has been bleeding into the brain.

http://stroke.about.com/od/whatisastrok1/a/stroketreatment.htm