Time is critical when it comes to preventing strokes from becoming severely debilitating, two Atlanta doctors explained.

“Every minute counts to save brain tissue,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Martinez Gutierrez, a vascular and interventional neurologist with Wellstar Health System.

The most common symptoms are a drooping face, arm or leg weakness, or speech difficulties. Once noticing any of the signs, quick action can increase the likelihood of qualifying for the best treatments.

“We understand that a lot of the outcomes that happen after a stroke are related directly to noticing a stroke or being aware of what the stroke symptoms are,” Martinez Gutierrez said.

An intravenous drug to break up the clot can be administered up to 4½ hours from the onset of stroke symptoms, he said.

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