What to do After You Wake from a Stroke
What to do After You Wake from a Stroke
According to the new study, studies are needed to learn ways to identify which people are mostly likely to benefit from tPA treatment even if their symptoms started during sleep. The study, of 1,854 people who had ischemic strokes, found that 14% had symptoms upon awakening. There were few differences between wake-up strokes and non-wake-up strokes, the authors said. People with wake-up strokes tended to be slightly older and had more severe strokes. But the researchers estimated that many of those people with wake-up strokes could have been treated with tPA.
"This is a group of patients that should be a focus for future studies," said the lead author of the study, Dr. Jason Mackey, of the University of Cincinnati, in a news release. "It's likely that some of these strokes occurred immediately prior to awakening, and people would benefit from treatment."
The study was published in the journal Neurology. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Strokes Often Occur During Sleep So What Do You Do When You Wake Up
Strokes that occur during sleep are not rare. According to a study released Monday, about one in seven strokes take place during sleep. That high number raises questions about how to best help people who have strokes during sleep.In the News
See "" for more on current events, entertainment and how it all relates to you An emergency treatment can greatly reduce the damage caused by strokes. But the medicine, called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), must be given at a hospital within a few hours after the first symptoms begin. During the day, it's possible to detect the first signs of a stroke. But people who awaken having had a stroke during sleep are at a big disadvantage.According to the new study, studies are needed to learn ways to identify which people are mostly likely to benefit from tPA treatment even if their symptoms started during sleep. The study, of 1,854 people who had ischemic strokes, found that 14% had symptoms upon awakening. There were few differences between wake-up strokes and non-wake-up strokes, the authors said. People with wake-up strokes tended to be slightly older and had more severe strokes. But the researchers estimated that many of those people with wake-up strokes could have been treated with tPA.
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"This is a group of patients that should be a focus for future studies," said the lead author of the study, Dr. Jason Mackey, of the University of Cincinnati, in a news release. "It's likely that some of these strokes occurred immediately prior to awakening, and people would benefit from treatment."
The study was published in the journal Neurology. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures