Washington, Feb 06: Helmets that cool the brain may slow down the spreading damage caused by a stroke, buying precious hours for patients, researchers reported yesterday.
Such a helmet might be used by ambulance crews to stabilize stroke victims while getting them to hospitals for brain-saving treatment, the researchers said.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with most caused by blood clots cutting off blood flow to the brain. The longer the clot lasts, the worse the damage. Clot-busting treatment can minimize damage but must be given within hours, usually three hours, of the stroke. Cooling patients has been found to help prevent the damage of a heart attack and now two teams told the American Heart Association's Annual International Stroke Conference it may work for stroke, too.

Bureau Report