Study: Many Strokes Start During Sleep

About 1 out of 7 strokes occurs during sleep, a new study suggests. In the United States, that would equal about 58,000 strokes a year. Most of these strokes can’t be treated with clot-dissolving medicines because no one knows when symptoms started. These medicines must be given within 3 hours of the first symptoms. The new study looked at records for 1,854 people who had an ischemic stroke. This is the type caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain. All of these patients were treated at hospitals in the Cincinnati area in 2005. Out of this group, 273 people showed the first symptoms of stroke when they woke up. In this situation, it’s always best to call 911, experts told HealthDay News and USA Today. Even if clot-dissolving drugs can’t be given, other treatments may help, they said. The journal Neurology published the study May 10.