Earlier doctors had only six hours to treat stroke.
Now with the advanced brain imaging technology, they have another ten hours or more to treat says the latest report.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in the U.S. In 2016, 1 in 5 deaths in US were because of stroke.
Stroke is when a part of your brain does not receive blood supply. Most of the times, a clogged blood vessel causes stroke and bad cholesterol which also forms the clot is the culprit. Sometimes a blood vessel in the brain ruptures causing stroke.
Stroke causes death of a portion of brain and it also signals towards more of such events that may happen soon. The death of a part of brain can cause severe disabilities or even death.
Here are the most common symptoms of stroke
- Sudden loss of movement/ numbness/ tingling on your face or on your leg or on your arm especially on one side of the body
- Severe headache
- Trouble talking
- Sudden problem with balancing or walking
- Confusion
- Trouble understanding simple statements
- Sudden vision changes
If you or anyone whom you know experience these symptoms contact the emergency department immediately.
Doctors start with clot dissolving medicines immediately. And use devices known as stents to remove the clot that has blocked the blood vessel.
During stroke a small area of brain can be dead, but a larger area of brain is under threat. Gregory Albers, a neurology professor at Stanford University Medical Center says a lot of collateral blood vessels take charge to make sure that larger area of brain receives enough blood.
Collateral vessels try to make up for the loss of blood supply caused by an issue with a major blood vessel and this gives an additional window period for doctors to treat stroke.
Due to the new imaging technology, doctors can save more lives and minimise disabilities in stroke. The DEFFUSE 3 study was conducted on 182 patients, in 32 medical centres, who suffered severe strokes which could lead to at least 50% of deaths.
The new technology is giving doctors at least 16 hours from the time the patient was perfectly well. This is especially useful for patients who are not sure of the time they had stroke, for instance patients who were asleep when they had stroke. Another use is for patients, who have to travel far distance for medical care. The new imaging technology, shows the dead brain tissues as pink and the brain tissues under risk as green on your phone.
Earlier doctors had only six hours to operate on the clot and save the threatened brain tissue. Now since doctors can operate within 16 hours or more of stroke, they can help more patients.
The study says by removing the clot which is causing stroke, doctors can save 12% more lives and prevent 45% stroke patients from severe disabilities.
Another study named DAWN study, published in New England Journal of Medicine says doctors can operate on stroke up-to 24 hours from the time the patient was last well.
Be sure to report to the emergency immediately, if you or your loved one suspects stroke!
Reference:
https://www.webmd.com/stroke/tc/stroke-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350119
