A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked (by a clot) or ruptures. When that happens, parts of the brain cannot get oxygen, and the brain and brain cells begin to die. A stroke is a serious medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Early action is essential to reducing brain damage and other serious complications.

UMC’s Mobile Stroke Unit is dedicated to fighting the effect of strokes in El Paso and part of the fight is educating El Paso about the signs of stroke. Even though strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, few people know the signs. Use the acronym BE FAST to remember the signs, and what to do if someone near you is experiencing them.

With strokes, every second counts. Vast numbers of neurons, synapses, and nerve fibers are irreversibly lost every second that treatment doesn’t occur. Doctors use a medication called tPA that dissolves blood clots in stroke patients. It increases recovery from stroke symptoms by up to 50 percent – but works best when given right away.

On a national scale, only 3 to 8.5 percent of potentially eligible patients receive tPA in time. The UMC Mobile Stroke Unit aims to change that, by bringing diagnosis and medications directly to the patient.