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Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 6 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Results of a recent study have revealed that many people don't recognize the early warning signs of stroke, and are thus more likely to go longer without life-saving treatment. Previous research has shown that stroke patients who receive clot-busting drugs within 3-hours of the first symptoms of stroke are far more likely to survive and recover than patients who miss this "crucial window" and cannot be given the drugs.
Results of a recent study have revealed that many people don't recognize the early warning signs of stroke, and are thus more likely to go longer without life-saving treatment. Previous research has shown that stroke patients who receive clot-busting drugs within 3-hours of the first symptoms of stroke are far more likely to survive and recover than patients who miss this "crucial window" and cannot be given the drugs. Lead author of the study Sung Sug Yoon, discovered that some stroke survivors did not realize they were having a stroke because they did not have textbook symptoms such as tingling, paralysis, or loss of vision. Because of this many patients often waited until the next day, or even for several days, before they sought medical help because they thought their symptoms were not urgent and would disappear. Early symptoms of stroke reported in the study included headache, nausea and vomiting, vertigo, inappropriate emotions, and balance problems.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: British Medical Journal 2002; 324:1065-1068
