Timely thrombolysis treatment can increase the chances of survival of a brain stroke patient, doctors said on Wednesday.

Doctors at Paras HMRI Hospital in Raja Bazar said sudden onset of numbness or weakness in the face, inability to speak, difficulty in walking are some of the signs of brain stroke.

Thrombolysis is a treatment to dissolve dangerous clots in blood vessels.

In this mode of treatment, the patient is injected with tissue plasminogen activator, a clot-busting drug.

The Paras HMRI Hospital has designed an acute stroke programme involving thrombolysis for brain stroke patients, which it started on Tuesday — World Stroke Day.