5/4/2007 - Quick intervention key to stroke care With May being American Stroke Month, now is a good time to think about what you know or don’t know about strokes. The information you have could help save a life—maybe even your own. Updated guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association (ASA) underscore the importance of people recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and seeking treatment right away. The guidelines, which were published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, also stated that intravenous (IV) delivery of an approved clot-dissolving drug is still the best intervention for ischemic stroke, which occurs when a clot blocks the blood flow in an artery to the brain. Time is crucial because IV delivery of the clot-dissolving drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), can only be given within the first three hours of the onset of symptoms. "For every minute that goes by, the likelihood of a poorer outcome increases," said Harold P. Adams, Jr., M.D., chairman of the group that wrote the guidelines. In addition, new treatment options, like intra-arterial (IA) administration of tPA and mechanical removal of blood clots, seem to be effective as well, according to the guidelines. The guideline authors said the newer options might be more helpful for people who have moderate to severe strokes and who get to emergency care too late for IV treatment. However, more research is needed because information on these techniques is incomplete. Recognition of stroke symptoms as early as possible is the best way to prevent severe brain damage. According to the ASA, symptoms of a stroke include: Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Difficulty speaking or understanding. Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Sudden, severe headaches with no known cause. If you experience the symptoms above or observe them in someone else, call 911 immediately. Back