Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 140,000 Americans each year.
But many lives could be spared if treatment was given sooner.
Now, a new program is aiming to speed up treatment time and save lives.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke.
"My left arm and part of my face were numb and tingling, says Brad Fahrenkamp, a stroke patient. When I went to stand up to dress myself, I fell right to the floor."
But getting treatment quickly can make all the difference.
Dr. Rasmussen, director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic, says the life-saving drug TPA must be delivered within four and a half hours of a stroke or less, and the sooner the better.
"Unfortunately, in the United States, only between three and eight percent of Americans get TPA if they're having a stroke," says Rasmussen.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic are trying to change that with a new mobile stroke unit that travels to the emergency scene when a stroke is suspected.
"I can't really think of a faster way that you could deliver stroke care to a patient," says Rasmussen. "Were able to initiate therapy at the scene immediately."
Link:
Mobile treatment unit brings faster care to stroke patients