Over the past decade, there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke. Yet rt-PA is still not reaching many of those who need it most. Better awareness of the symptoms of stroke and the need to seek urgent medical attention are required at all levels of the medical and wider community.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the United States.
The incidence of stroke rises exponentially with age, and with the expected aging of the population, the burden of stroke is likely to become even greater. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and is complicated by high rates of depression and dementia. It is estimated that there are more than 500,000 stroke survivors in the United States. Prior to the 1970s, it was believed that brain tissue deprived of its blood supply could survive for approximately eight minutes. Research showed, however, that not all of the brain tissue involved in an ischemic stroke is irreparably damaged.