Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment

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Another important influence was the way people got to a hospital. "They were treated more quickly when they arrived by ambulance," Rose said. "It is better to call the EMS than to take yourself to the hospital."

People brought in by ambulance by the emergency medical service were twice as likely to get a timely CT scan, the study found. And while gender made a difference, race, health insurance status, time of day or weekend arrival did not.

"The whole thing is recognizing a stroke on both ends, the person who is having it, getting to the hospital in timely fashion, and also when they arrive at the hospital," said Dr. Claudette Brooks, an assistant professor of neurology at West Virginia University, and a spokeswoman for the American Stroke Association.

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Brooks said she instructs people who believe they are having a stroke to get to the emergency room immediately, preferably by calling 911. If they do insist on driving to the hospital, they should call ahead, "so that when they walk in, they are not given a number by someone and put in a corner for several hours."

She advises against driving because, "if something happens, and it is a very severe stroke, and someone suddenly stops breathing, what are you going to do, stop the car and give CPR?"

While diagnosis and treatment might be quicker at a hospital with a stroke center, "the important thing is to get to any hospital right away," Brooks said.

The American Stroke Association teaches the public to watch for these warning signs:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no know cause.

More information

For more on stroke, go to American Heart Association.

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