London - Death and disability can be averted by quickly taking aspirin after a minor stroke, a study has found.
The blood-thinning drug is already given to people who have suffered a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, after they have been assessed in hospital.
But more urgent treatment greatly reduces the risk of a subsequent fatal or disabling stroke, new research shows.
Taking aspirin as soon as possible after experiencing warning symptoms increased the level of risk reduction from 15 percent to 70 percent-80 percent.
Professor Peter Rothwell, from Oxford University, said: Our findings confirm the effectiveness of urgent treatment after TIA and minor stroke and show that aspirin is the most important component.
The Independent