Considerable effort has been directed towards acute stroke research with numerous drug therapies being tried and tested. As yet there is still no routine treatment that is unequivocally effective in acute stroke. The development of stroke units has been a major breakthrough in reducing disability through co-ordinated rehabilitation, and new interest is being focussed towards limiting acute neurological deterioration through acute stroke units. Monitoring and attempting to stabilize acute physiological parameters within normal limits such as blood pressure, temperature, hydration status, glucose levels and oxygen saturations, has become standard practice for some acute stroke units. Strategies to correct hypertension, hypotension, dehydration, hyperglycaemia, pyrexia and hypoxia may potentially reduce neuronal damage in the acute phase of stroke and subsequently improve functional outcome and survival. Whether we require large prospective randomized controlled trials to test whether these specific interventions are to be used in mainstay practice is unclear.