Current ratings for: Each 15-minute delay steals 1 month of healthy life for stroke sufferers
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When it comes to getting treatment for stroke, every minute counts. This is the conclusion of a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, which shows that for every minute treatment is accelerated, the patient gains another 1.8 days of healthy life.
Stroke is the number four cause of death in the US. A disease affecting the arteries leading to the brain, it occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts.
When this happens, part of the brain is unable to get the blood and oxygen it needs, prompting brain cells to die. This is why immediate treatment is so vital; restoring oxygen to the brain as quickly as possible means less damage is done.
The researchers from this latest study, led by Dr. Atte Meretoia of the University of Melbourne in Australia, say that though they found all stroke patients benefit from faster treatment following a stroke, younger patients gain even more benefit than older patients.
They note that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the clot-busting drug used to treat ischemic stroke, should be administered within 4.5 hours of onset of symptoms, but the sooner it is given, the better the outcome.
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Each 15-minute delay steals 1 month of healthy life for stroke sufferers