A New Definition

The term brain attack is starting to be used in hospitals in place of the term stroke. Accompanying this new term is also new advances in MR imaging, and neuroprotective drugs. Overall as time goes on it is important to educate the patient so that they can receive immediate medical aid. 

(http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rcop/cm/2002/00000002/00000001/art00016)

The use of the term brain attack is to stress the urgency to the patient that immediate care is needed. Also the past term for an acute stroke by definition is that the effects are suppose to last for longer that 24 hours. Therefore brain attack disallows for the delay of action.  

The same protocol of taking aspirin, and intravenously breaking up the thrombis, while being admitted to the stroke unit is still advised for patients on the onset of a brain attack within 3 hours. However in the UK only 33% of patients arrive within 3 hours after suffering a brain attack.