[Treatment of medical complications: hypertension/hypotension, hyperglycemia, hyperthermia, hypoxia, cardiac complications and pulmonary embolism].

The stroke patient often suffers additional medical complications related to age, heart and artery damage and immobility. Pulmonary embolism is one condition that can sometimes be prevented. Heart disease must be detected and treated, as it is the principal cause of death after stroke. Recent data describing the physiology of stroke suggest that hypotension, hyperglycemia and hyperthermia should be prevented, as these conditions increase the likelihood of death or sequelae. Stroke is no longer a "wait and see" disease.