SAEDNEWS: The President of the Stroke Association emphasized that every minute is critical in stroke treatment, stating that therapies such as leeching and other unscientific methods are wrong and superstitious, and should be addressed if observed.
According to Saed News Science and Technology Service, Babak Zamani, President of the Stroke Association, emphasized the urgency of rapid treatment for stroke patients during a press conference on World Stroke Day. He described the “golden time” for stroke treatment as extremely limited, stating that while it was previously believed that around four and a half hours were available for intervention, recent research shows that even a minute’s delay can affect treatment outcomes.
Zamani highlighted the need for broader public awareness campaigns to ensure that people seek immediate care at equipped centers upon noticing early stroke symptoms. He also noted that the basic treatment infrastructure in the country’s hospitals has weakened in recent years, urging scientific associations and media outlets to raise public demand for the expansion of treatment centers and emergency services.
Addressing false medical advertising, Zamani condemned the use of unscientific methods such as leech therapy, describing them as incorrect and superstitious practices that should be strictly controlled.
Regarding stroke treatment methods, he explained that effective drugs, such as tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), must be administered to patients within the first hour of onset. However, this drug is not covered by insurance and costs 19 million tomans.
The brain specialist emphasized that every minute is critical in stroke treatment. During the first hour, two out of three stroke patients can be fully saved, a success rate significantly higher than that for other conditions, including heart attacks. He outlined three factors crucial to effective stroke prevention and treatment: public capability and awareness, the emergency system, and the overall healthcare system. He stressed that if acute strokes are not treated effectively in a country, the country’s ability to manage other diseases should also be questioned.
Zamani further explained that “Code 724,” which ensures 24/7 stroke treatment services, is currently implemented only in university hospitals, with private hospitals—even in northern Tehran—lacking this capability.
He praised the capabilities of cities like Kermanshah, Tabriz, and Zanjan, noting that well-equipped public and university hospitals in these regions have enabled highly effective stroke treatment. Nonetheless, Zamani acknowledged that Iran still lags behind global standards, and although stroke care has improved in recent years, there is still a significant gap.
Effective stroke treatment, he concluded, requires hospital preparedness, public awareness of early symptoms, and the presence of specialized teams in healthcare centers.
