When you’re having a stroke, “time is brain” as neurologists say. The reason is that brain cells die within minutes when deprived of blood and the oxygen that blood carries. Getting a blocked artery open as fast as possible is the key to successful treatment.

Typically, people who are having a stroke must wait until they get to an ER which costs valuable time.

A  study of Mobile Stroke Units, special ambulances equipped with a CT scanner and staffed by healthcare professionals who can diagnose and treat strokes quickly with clot-busting medications to open clogged arteries to the brain, was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The researchers reported that patients who were treated on these mobile stroke units had lower levels of disability three months after their stroke, compared with folks who received treatment at the ER.

One of the study authors said, “Mobile stroke units … result in more patients getting treated, faster treatment, and most importantly better outcomes, such as less paralysis, loss of speech or intellect, which results in less disability from the stroke.”

© Copyright WLL, INC. 2021. This blog provides a wide variety of general health information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your regular physician. If you are concerned about your health, take what you learn from this blog and meet with your personal doctor to discuss your concerns.