The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a division of the National Institutes of Health, found that few eligible stroke patients are receiving potentially life-saving treatments. NINDS director Gerald Fischback, MD is disappointed that almost five years after one of the organization's clinical trials found that anti-clotting treatments could dramatically help individuals suffering ischemic strokes, these treatments are still not being utilized in the majority of patients who could benefit.

Ischemic strokes cause blood clots in the brain. A NINDS clinical trial found that one of the most effective ischemic stroke treatments, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), could reduce and even reverse symptoms of an ischemic stroke when administered within three hours of the initial onset of stroke symptoms. These patients were nearly 30% more likely to recover from their strokes with little or no disability after three months than were patients who did not receive the treatment.

Many patients do not receive these vital treatments as they fail to recognize stroke symptoms and therefore delay an important visit to the hospital. Studies have found that less than 10% of eligible ischemic stroke victims receive TPA treatment or other comparable treatments because of such delay.

NINDS associate director of clinical trials John R. Marler, MD acknowledges that people need to recognize stroke symptoms, call 911 and get the patient to the hospital immediately. Dr. Marler says that the sooner the treatment is administered, the better that chances for a complete recovery.

The main symptoms of stroke are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking; dizziness; loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.