Cooling brain 'improves outlook for stroke patients'
Monday 24th January 2011
Researchers have found that cooling the body temperature of stroke patients lessens the chance of resultant brain injury.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh found that hypothermia could lessen the risk of brain damage after a stroke.
This hibernation is usually achieved by lowering the body temperature to about 35 degrees C using ice cold intravenous drips and cooling pads on the skin.
It allows the brain to survive with less blood supply than normal, which gives doctors more time to treat the patient.
Dr Malcolm Macleaod from the university told the BBC that this procedure could improve the outcome of a stroke for over 40,000 individuals in Europe each year.
"The preliminary evidence is all there - now it is time for Europe to act," he said.
Meanwhile, statins could increase the chance of stroke recurrence in patients who suffered a haemorrhagic stroke, according to research from the Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Written by Angela Newbury
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