Healthy Me - At Home and Away: Stroke

Showing posts with label Stroke. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Tomatoes can lower stroke risk: study

Posted: 09 October 2012

WASHINGTON: Eating tomatoes can dramatically reduce the risk of having a stroke, according to a new study out on Monday that provided more support for diets rich in fruits and vegetables.

The key factor appears to be the powerful antioxident lycopene, according to the Finnish study published in the Neurology journal.

The research -- based on data from more than 1,000 middle-aged men, followed for an average of 12 years -- indicates that people with the highest levels of lycopene in their blood have a 55 percent lower chance of suffering a stroke.

"This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke," said study author Jouni Karppi, of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio.

Among the 258 men with the lowest levels of lycopene in their blood, nearly one in 10 had a stroke. But among the 259 with the highest levels of the antioxident, that number fell to around one in 25.

The correlation between lycopene levels and stroke risk was even stronger when the researchers only included strokes due to blood clots, leaving out those caused by hemorrhages.

The participants with the highest levels of lycopene had a 59 percent lower risk of stroke from a blood clot than the men with the lowest levels of the antioxident.

In total, 67 of the men suffered strokes during the course of the study.

Researchers looked at a number of other antioxidents -- alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E, and vitamin A, or retinol -- but did not find any link with stroke risk.

- AFP/al

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Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
Tomatoes can lower stroke risk: study

Monday, November 21, 2011

Women chocoholics run smaller risk of strokes

Is this good news or what?!
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Posted: 12 October 2011

STOCKHOLM: Have a sweet tooth? It could protect you from a stroke, according to a large Swedish study published on Tuesday on women chocolate-lovers.

"We followed 33,000 women over the course of 10 years, and we found that those who ate most chocolate had a much lower risk - 20 percent lower - of suffering a stroke," said Susanna Larsson, one of three researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm who carried out the study.

The study, published this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, began in 1997 when the researchers asked 33,372 women in Sweden between the ages of 49 and 83 to fill out a questionnaire on their eating habits.

The women were asked to indicate how often they on average had consumed chocolate and 95 other foods during the previous year.

Over the following decade, a total of about 1,600 strokes were registered in the group.

After taking into account all the known risk factors for stroke, the researchers discovered that the women who ate the least chocolate - between eight grammes (0.3 ounces) a week and none - "were the ones who suffered most strokes," Larsson told AFP.

The women who ate the most chocolate - on average 66 grammes (2.3 ounces) per week - were the least likely to suffer a stroke, she said.

While the women were not asked to distinguish between light and dark chocolate, she points out that in the 1990s, about 90 percent of all chocolate eaten in Sweden was milk chocolate.

"If we had been able to separate light and dark chocolate we think that the connection would have been clearer with dark, since it's cocoa that is the protective substance," Larsson said.

She said she and her colleagues had found what they had expected to find.

"We weren't really surprised, because our hypothesis was that chocolate would help protect against strokes," she said, pointing out that it had already been shown that "chocolate reduces blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a high risk factor."

Other studies have also shown that antioxidants in chocolate "can reduce oxidation of the bad (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and has been shown to improve insulin resistance," she pointed out.

A few smaller studies have previously hinted that eating chocolate could help protect against strokes, but the Karolinska Institute team's decade-long study of such a large number of test subjects is the first to reach a clear connection.

Larsson said she and her colleagues now planned to check if they could find the same connection in men.

"We expect we will see the same connection," she said.

- AFP/de

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Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
Women chocoholics run smaller risk of strokes

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Deadly pair: Diet soda, salt boost stroke risk

Posted: 10 February 2011

WASHINGTON: A pair of studies released on Wednesday suggest that diet soda drinkers face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than people who do not drink any soda, and that salty food boosts stroke risks, too.

The soda study examined 2,564 people in Manhattan and found that those who reported consuming diet fizzy drinks daily had a 61 percent higher risk of vascular events than people who said they did not drink any soda at all.

When researchers factored in allowances for metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease and heart disease history, the risk was 48 percent higher, said the research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference.

"If our results are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet soda may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages," said lead study author Hannah Gardener at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

A second study looked at 2,657 participants in the same area and found that high salt intake was linked to a dramatically increased risk of ischemic strokes, in which a blockage cuts blood flow to the brain.

People who reported eating more than 4,000 milligrams of sodium daily - the amount contained in four large orders of french fries in the United States - faced twice the risk of stroke as people who consumed less than 1,500 milligrams per day.

The average American consumes about 3,000 milligrams of salt per day, according to the study, though previous research has said it could be as high as 4,000 milligrams per day.

"Stroke risk, independent of hypertension, increased 16 percent for every 500 milligrams of sodium consumed a day," allowing for adjustments for age, sex, ethnicity, education, alcohol use, exercise, daily caloric intake, smoking status, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and previous heart disease, it said.

Current dietary guidelines in the United States urge people to consume less that 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, or about a teaspoon of salt. The American Heart Association recommends less than 1,500 milligrams per day.

- AFP/de

Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:Diet soda, salt boost stroke risk

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Traffic noise and stroke risk

Is our technology and modernization really having a toll on us, our health, our being?
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Traffic noise boosts risk of stroke, says study
Posted: 26 January 2011

PARIS: Exposure to road traffic noise boosts the risk of stroke for those 65 or older, according to research published online on Wednesday in the European Heart Journal.

In a survey of more than 50,000 people, every 10 additional decibels of road noise led to an increase of 14 percent in the probability of a stroke when averaged for all age groups.

For those under 65, the risk was not statistically significant. But the risk was weighted hugely in the over-65 group, where it rose 27 percent for each 10 decibel increment.

Above 60 decibels or so, the danger of stroke increased even more, the researchers found.

A busy street can easily generate noise levels of 70 or 80 decibels. By comparison, a lawnmower or a chainsaw gives off 90 or 100 decibels, while a nearby jet plane taking off typically measures 120 decibels.

"Previous studies have linked traffic noise with raised blood pressure and heart attacks," said lead researcher Mette Sorensena of the Danish Cancer Society.

"Our study shows that exposure to road traffic noise seems to increase the risk of stroke."

The study reviewed the medical and residency histories of 51,485 people who had participated in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health survey, conducted in and around Copenhagen between 1993 and 1997.

A total of 1,881 people suffered a stroke during this period.

Eight percent of all stroke cases, and 19 percent of cases in those aged over 65, could be attributed to road traffic noise, according to the paper.

The researchers suggest noise acts as a stressor and disturbs sleep, which results in increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as increased level of stress hormones.

The study factored in the effect of air pollution, exposure to railway and aircraft noise, and a range of potentially confounding lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and alcohol consumption.

The survey cohort lived mainly in urban areas and was thus not representative of the whole population in terms of exposure to road traffic noise.

Proximity to road noise is also related to social class, as wealthier people can afford to live in quieter areas.

- AFP/de

Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:Traffic noise boosts risk of stroke, says study

Monday, February 7, 2011

HIV patients and their risk to suffer stroke

As if having HIV is not enough...
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HIV patients 3 times as likely to suffer strokes
Posted: 20 January 2011

WASHINGTON - People with HIV are three times as likely to suffer strokes, said a study out on Wednesday that has led researchers to question if anti-retroviral drugs could be to blame.

Among people living in the United States with the virus that causes AIDS, stroke hospitalisations rose 67 per cent over the past decade, while in the general population they fell seven per cent, said the study in the journal Neurology.

Researchers examined all stroke hospitalisations in the United States over the past 10 years and found that the total declined over the course of the decade with 71,742 fewer strokes overall.

But among people with HIV, 537 more strokes were tabulated in the same time period.

People with HIV showed an increase in a certain kind of stroke, called ischemic, which is caused by blood clots to the brain. Ischemic strokes are the most common type.

"The average age for a stroke among people with HIV was in the 50s, which is much lower than that of those without HIV," said Bruce Ovbiagele, professor of neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego.

"This finding suggests that HIV or HIV treatments may be directly related to stroke occurrence."

The World Health Organization says antiretroviral therapy has resulted in "huge reductions" in death rates among HIV sufferers, though people in poorer countries often cannot afford the drug regimens.

Of the total 33.3 million people living with HIV in the world, at least 14.6 million were in need of antiretroviral therapy in 2009, said WHO and UNAIDS.

"While these therapies have greatly increased life expectancy, they may boost the presence of risk factors associated with stroke," said Ovbiagele.

"Another possibility is that longer exposure to HIV as a result of greater survival, even at low viral load levels, may allow for the virus to increase stroke risk."

- AFP/al

Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:HIV patients 3 times as likely to suffer strokes

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Vit D risk in-between races

Image via WikipediaIs it due to our genes? Of course, the skin color is there, but that is no longer the norm.
So I can say that it is due to our genes. Stronger, eh?
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Vitamin D deficiency doubles the risk of fatal stroke in whites but not in blacks, study finds

A vitamin D deficiency doubles the risk of fatal strokes in whites, but has no effect on the risk in blacks, even though blacks are more likely to have vitamin D deficiencies and are 65% more likely to die from strokes, researchers said Sunday. The results were puzzling, said Dr. Erin Michos of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. "We thought maybe the lower vitamin D levels might actually explain why blacks have higher risks for strokes," she said.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 140,000 Americans annually and permanently disabling more than half a million.

Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin involved in bone health, helps prevent rickets in children, protects against severe bone loss in adults, and may lower the risk of heart disese, cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other medical conditions. Natural sources include exposure to ultraviolet B rays in sunlight and eating fatty fish, egg yolk, and fortified foods such as milk and breakfast cereals.

Michos and her colleagues analyzed health records of 7,981 black and white adults who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of Americans, conducted between 1988 and 1994, following the participants for a median of 14 years. They reported at a Chicago meeting of the American Heart Assn. that, among the participants, 6.6% of whites and 32.3% of blacks had severely low levels of vitamin D in their blood, classified as levels below 15 nanograms per milliliter. During the period of the study, 116 whites and 60 blacks died of stroke. Accounting for age and other risk factors, blacks were 65% more likely to suffer a stroke. Higher levels of diabetes and hypertension probably account for some of the increased risk, but not this much, Michos said. "Something else is surely behind this problem. However, don't blame vitamin D deficits."

The lack of sensitivity to low levels of vitamin D may be an adaptation to historic low levels associated with the sun-blocking effects of skin pigments, she added. The blacks in the study also had fewer incidents of bone fracture and greater overall bone density than whites. "In blacks, we may not need to raise vitamin D levels to the same level as in whites to minimize their risk of stroke," she concluded.

Taken from below article:
Vitamin D deficiency doubles the risk of fatal stroke in whites but not in blacks, study finds

Friday, June 4, 2010

Young and old alike: Strokes can affect anyone

This is one more illness that can strike and attack anybody and everybody, whether young or old. So take the precaution.

Read on...
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SINGAPORE : With a brilliant career as a business development manager and youth on her side, Phyllis Soh had everything going for her - until a sudden stroke eight years ago left her near death, bedridden and unable to speak for months.

She was only 29 - an age many thought was far too young for a stroke.

Phyllis cannot remember what happened that day, except that the stroke was "a sudden attack". Prior to the attack, the seemingly healthy university graduate "did not suffer from any chronic illnesses".

One of the common misconceptions about stroke is that it affects only old people. In fact, strokes can affect people from all age groups, said Dr Vijay Kumar Sharma, consultant neurologist of the department of medicine at National University Hospital.

Stronger After Stroke: Your Roadmap to Recovery

The risk of stroke increases tremendously after 50, but this life-threatening condition can also happen to younger people, as Phyllis' case has shown.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted due to a blocked or ruptured artery.

"With the lack of oxygen and nutrients, affected areas of the brain die," explained Dr Lee Kim En, education director and head and senior consultant of the department of neurology at National Neuroscience Institute.

He estimated that about 5 per cent of young stroke victims are under 45.

Over at the National University Hospital, approximately 5 to 6 per cent of stroke patients are under 45. Out of this group, 1 per cent is under 30.

Devastating effects

Living With Stroke: A Guide for Families

The fourth most common cause of death and a major cause of disability in Singapore, stroke accounts for about 10,000 hospital admissions here each year. About one-fifth of stroke cases are fatal, said Dr Lee.

Even if the patient survives, the aftermath could be devastating.

Eight years down the road, Phyllis - who is now able to walk a little with some help and speak, albeit haltingly - is still feeling the effects of the stroke that robbed her of her youth.

She said: "It has affected my life more than I can begin to describe. Imagine being reliant on someone else for everything - from eating and drinking to walking and talking. I can't even do simple things like cut my own nails, dig my ears - my hands tremble too much - or go to the hairdresser to cut my hair."

Emotionally, Phyllis admitted that she is "constantly depressed". She has written a book, I Think, Therefore I Am, which was published two years ago, but has not held a job since the stroke. "Who would employ me?"

What causes stroke?

In a younger person, a stroke may occur when there is an abnormality in the blood vessels, as suspected in Phyllis' case.

"The person may be born with blood vessels that loop together abnormally or are too weak to withstand aggravating pressure for too long," explained Dr Lee.

A stroke can also be caused by an accident or even sudden neck movements, although Dr Sharma added that these causes are not common.

He explained: "Arteries supplying blood to the brain travel through the neck. The walls of the carotid and vertebral arteries may get injured due to neck injuries or sudden neck movements. This can happen even with trivial trauma."

Prevention is better than cure

Some causes of stroke, like the ones mentioned above, cannot be helped. But many factors are preventable.

Conquering Stroke: How I Fought My Way Back and How You Can Too

"If you put aside age as a factor, I would say that high blood pressure and smoking are one of the highest risk factors. You see young people lighting up every day. It's like a time bomb," said Dr Lee.

Other factors include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and a sedentary or stressful lifestyle.

But Dr Lee cautioned against being "overly paranoid". Although strokes can happen to anyone of any age, they "can be prevented by modification of risk factors", he added.

Warning signs

A quick diagnosis can be critical to helping a stroke victim.

Early warning signs of stroke are always sudden in onset. They include incoordination of one side of the body, numbness, sudden slurring of speech, sudden clumsiness, facial droop and double vision or loss of vision.

Occasionally, a mini stroke, called a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), can occur before a full-blown one. The symptoms last for only a few minutes and resolve within 24 hours.

"The risk of a subsequent stroke after TIA is about 10 per cent, being highest after the first few days," said Dr Sharma.

Such warning signs should never be ignored. See a doctor immediately. - TODAY/ra

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
Strokes can affect anyone
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

H1N1 flu spreads as Spain, Uruguay report first deaths

Posted: 01 July 2009 0420 hrs

A guard dons a mask at a hospital in Bangalore, India.

MADRID: Spain and Uruguay on Tuesday reported their first deaths from H1N1 flu, as Canada expressed fears that young people were particularly vulnerable to the virus.

In Spain, a 20-year-Moroccan woman died at a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, becoming the country's first fatality from the A(H1N1) infection.

The woman, who was seven months pregnant and suffered from asthma, died at dawn of a respiratory illness provoked by the infection, said a health ministry statement.

She had been receiving treatment for several days, but her condition deteriorated on Monday, prompting doctors to carry out a Caesarean delivery of the baby, who was fragile but unaffected by the virus, the ministry said.

Three other patients were be in a serious condition in Spanish hospitals, health officials said.

Her death was the fourth from H1N1 flu in Europe.

Late on Monday, Britain reported its third H1N1 flu death - a schoolgirl whom officials said had underlying health problems.

In the Uruguayan capital Montevideo health ministry officials reported the country's first victim, a 60-year-old woman.

"Late today a woman died in Montevideo with multiple organ failure and tests confirmed the presence of the A(H1N1) virus," the ministry said in a statement.
Uruguay has 195 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, including 12 requiring hospitalisation, according to the ministry.

Health authorities in Canada meanwhile expressed alarm that young people were being hit hardest by the infection.

Preliminary data showed the virus had mostly infected people under the age of 20 in Canada, and relatively few people over 65.

During seasonal influenza outbreaks, it is usually the elderly who account for 25 percent of infections, and most deaths.

"So this is quite different," Chief Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones said.
"Although we do expect some cases to be severe in any influenza outbreak, especially when there is underlying factors such as chronic lung disease or diabetes, there are some cases (now) where the individual was previously healthy before catching this virus and rapidly has progressed to severe illness and required a ventilator," he said.

Figures released by the World Health Organisation on Monday, meanwhile, put the death toll from the pandemic at 311 and the number of total infections at 70,893 - up more than 10,000 on the figures released the previous Friday.

US researchers said in a new study published on Tuesday that the virus responsible for the Spanish flu in 1918 had created a viral dynasty that persists today.

The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, said the H1N1 virus, which caused tens of millions of deaths, was also transmitted from humans to pigs during the pandemic and continues to evolve today.

"The 1918-1919 influenza pandemic was a defining event in the history of public health," said Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a co-author of the study.

Jeffrey Taubenberger, the senior investigator at NIAID's Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, said all human-adapted influenza A viruses were descendants, direct or indirect, of that founding virus.

"Thus we can be said to be living in a pandemic era that began in 1918," he added. - AFP/de

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.