Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention focuses on limiting or delaying strokes where significant risks factors already exist, or a person has already had a stroke. It helps people address their risk factors (weight, high blood pressure, etc.) and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Secondary prevention strategies are especially important for people with substantial risk factors, as well as people who have had a confirmed transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini stroke).

In December 2010, the BC Stroke Strategy tabled the Provincial Stroke Action Plan with the BC Ministry of Health Services and regional Health Authorities for decision around future funding and implementation. The Action Plan recommends expanding TIA Rapid Assessment Clinics across British Columbia as a key way to prevent TIAs from becoming full-blown strokes.

For more information about TIA Rapid Assessment Clinics, including an overview of activities by health authorities, a list of locations and hours and the project Evaluation Report, visit the TIA Rapid Assessment Clinics section of this website.

The BC Stroke Strategy, working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon and the BC College of Family Physicians, launched an e-Learning module for family physicians. The module is based on the BC Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee's (GPAC's) Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack - Management and Prevention Guideline.

This concise 10-15 minute on-line course helps physicians learn the steps to assess, grade and react to key symptoms of TIAs.