Time is Brain!
Like a heart attack, stroke demands immediate medical attention. Emergency medical treatment can make all the difference in the world for someone who is having a stroke . . . it can be the difference between life and death . . . the difference between brain cells that are saved and brain cells that are damaged forever . . . the difference between recovery and lifelong impairment. For each minute that brain cells are deprived of oxygen, brain damage increases and more of the brain is injured.
Medical research shows that when a stroke happens, brain cells in the area of the stroke set off a sort of chain reaction of chemical and electrical signals, possibly leading to secondary injury. This secondary injury can damage or even kill brain cells in a much larger area surrounding the original stroke. The faster a stroke is diagnosed, the faster treatment can occur, thus lowering the risk of permanent brain damage and disability. However, nationwide only about 15% of stroke patients get to the hospital during the window of time where the most effective therapy can be delivered (within three to six hours of the onset of symptoms). In fact, most people wait anywhere from six to 24 hours after experiencing the first symptoms of a stroke before seeking medical care. This is too late!