Picking up the warning signs early, they say, can prevent death and disability. If administered within the first few hours of symptoms, new advances in stroke treatment can help minimize damage to the brain and thereby reduce the death and disability of stroke.
Stroke is caused by the sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain.
It occurs when an artery becomes clogged by a blood clot, cutting off the supply of vital oxygen and killing brain tissue. UCSF stroke doctors are active in educating the community about stroke prevention. Whether through outreach, the media or Hollywood, the more often messages about stroke are spread, the better, says Smith. This year, more than 550,000 in the US will suffer stroke, which is the number one cause of adult disability. Search Copyright 1998 Regents of the University of California.