A person suffering these symptoms should call 911 immediately, and should not wait?
RALPH L. SACCO, MD: If you have these neurologic symptoms, then you need to call right away. You don't want to wait. The key for stroke treatment is to receive medical treatment in less than three hours. That's why we use the term "time is brain." The most effective therapy we have only works if you get it within three hours.
What happens once the person calls 911?
In most cities, a 911 call will prompt an ambulance to get the patient to the hospital right away. At the hospital the patient will be stabilized, and then the key is to find out what kind of stroke it is. Often, a brain scan will be done, which can tell us whether it's a bleeding stroke or an ischemic stroke.
If it's an ischemic stroke -- which constitute nearly 85% of strokes -- then the patient may be a candidate for a clot-busting medicine to reduce the damage from stroke and improve outcome.
How do these clot-busting medicines work and what are they?
DARA JAMIESON, MD: The clot-busting medicines are given intravenously to people who meet certain criteria. The patient has to have significant (neurologic) deficit, be treated within three hours of the onset of the stroke symptoms, and be medically stable. The patient must have normal to only slightly elevated blood pressure and not have any history of bleeding problems.
How do the clot-busting medications work?
DARA JAMIESON, MD: They are given intravenously, and they go into the artery that is clogged and dissolve the clot, which permits normal blood flood to the brain.
