Stroke Secondary to Atherosclerosis

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Prognosis (Expectations)

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in developed countries. About one-fourth of the sufferers die as a result of the stroke or its complications, about one-half have some degree of recovery but are left with variable disability and about one-fourth recover most or all function. There are three important signs occurring at the onset of the stroke that predict best who will recover to a lesser extent in the convalescence phase: low-grade temperature or fever, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and low blood pressure (hypotension). People with these symptoms are less likely to make a full recovery. Contrary to common belief, recurrence of stroke is only around 2% within the first 14 days.