Introduction Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Prompt restoration of blood flow to the brain is critical in ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke caused by a blood clot blocking a brain artery. Two highly effective treatments—clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics) and mechanical thrombectomy—have revolutionized stroke care by reopening blocked vessels and improving patient outcomes. This article explains how these treatments work, when they are used, and their importance in saving brain tissue. Clot-Busting Drugs: Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) What is tPA? tPA is a medication that dissolves blood clots by activating plasminogen, an enzyme that…