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Questions to ask your doctor if you've had a stroke

Last published:Jul 10, 2020

If you've had a stroke, you may want to talk to your doctor to find out more. Here are some questions you or your family might want to ask.

  • How serious was my stroke?

  • What do you think caused it?

  • What kind of stroke have I had?

  • Will I have ongoing care in a hospital that specialises in treating people who have had a stroke? Will I have treatment outside of the hospital?

  • Will my symptoms go away?

  • Will I be disabled? What problems might I have?

  • What sort of rehabilitation treatment will I have to help me recover? How often will I have this treatment, and for how long? Where will I have it?

  • Will I have another stroke?

  • What should I do if I get similar symptoms again?

  • What's the best treatment for me to help prevent another stroke?

  • Will I need any drug treatment?

  • What are the side effects of treatment?

  • What can I do to help myself? Do I need to change my diet? Do I need to exercise more? Can you help me stop smoking?

  • Should I take any vitamin supplements?

  • Do other members of my family have a raised risk of having a stroke? What can they do to protect themselves?

The patient information from BMJ Best Practice is regularly updated. The most recent version of Best Practice can be found at bestpractice.bmj.com. This information is intended for use by health professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is strongly recommended that you independently verify any interpretation of this material and, if you have a medical problem, see your doctor.

Please see BMJ's full terms of use at: bmj.com/company/legal-information. BMJ does not make any representations, conditions, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that this material is accurate, complete, up-to-date or fit for any particular purposes.

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