Articles on Stroke

A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. As a result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, which can lead to the inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, the inability to understand or formulate speech or not being able to see one side of the visual field.  Symptoms typically start suddenly, and depend on the area of the brain affected. The larger the area of brain affected, the more functions that are likely to be lost.

Strokes can be classified into two major categories — ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemia is the interruption of the blood supply, while hemorrhage is the rupture of a blood vessel or an abnormal vascular structure. The majority of strokes are ischemic

12/02/2011 - Articles
Blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels, blood cholesterol: Know Your Numbers!

Blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels, blood cholesterol: Know Your Numbers!

For a proper understanding of your health, you must know how you stand compared to the normal, healthy condition. Here you can learn about normal blood pressure levels, blood cholesterol levels (and other lipids), and blood sugar levels (also known as blood sugar numbers). Read more

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05/20/2010 - Articles

Alteplase for stroke - the sooner the better

When someone has a stroke, every minute counts. This is because the damage to the brain from oxygen deprivation is progressive. Most often, a stroke is caused by the presence of a clot in an artery serving the brain. Dissolving the clot, with a clotbusting drug like alteplase, can restore blood and oxygen supply and so limit brain damage and the resulting disability. Read more

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05/20/2010 - Articles

Pneumonia vaccine does not protect against heart attack, stroke

If you are at risk of heart attack or stroke, your doctor may offer you a shot of pneumonia vaccine as a preventive measure. Previous research has suggested that pneumonia vaccine does indeed offer some protection against cardiovascular events. However, a new study from Kaiser Permanente scientists casts doubt on the health benefit of the pneumonia vaccine. Read more

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05/20/2010 - Articles

Walking can cut stroke risk in women

Stroke can be a disabling, even fatal, event. We already know about some of the risk factors linked to stroke, such as high blood pressure, excess alcohol intake, diabetes and smoking. What has not been clear is how physical activity might help reduce stroke risk. A team from Harvard School of Public Health now issues a new report from the Women’s Health Study, a large study set up to investigate risk factors and heart disease and stroke. This shows an association between walking for two hours or more a week and reduced stroke risk. Read more

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05/06/2010 - Articles

Update on stroke research

At one time, stroke was not regarded as a medical emergency, because there was no treatment that could limit the ‘ripple’ of damage that spreads throughout the brain when a clot occurs, depriving the brain of oxygen. Now, however, we have thrombolytic or clot busting drugs, which can be injected and so limit damage and ensuing disability. But these drugs are most effective if given promptly so recognition of stroke symptoms is crucial. Read more

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04/15/2010 - Articles

High levels of natural estrogen increase stroke risk

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and leads to significant disability among survivors. Stroke is also more common among women after the menopause and it used to be assumed that this was because of falling levels of the hormone estrogen. However, research from the Women’s Health Initiative showed that supplying estrogen in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not help. In fact, HRT actually increases stroke risk, and has other health risks, which is why millions of women have stopped taking it. Read more

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04/12/2010 - Articles
How To Prevent Another Stroke

How To Prevent Another Stroke

After someone has experienced a stroke, apart from working to ensure full recovery, it's important to know what to do to prevent another stroke. The National Stroke Association's publication "HOPE: The Stroke Recovery Guide" contains information about preventing a second stroke; we reproduce an extract from it, here. Read more

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04/01/2010 - Articles

Tea flavonols could reduce stroke risk

Compounds in tea called flavonols appear to help protect people from stroke, according to a new meta-analysis from researchers in The Netherlands. They reviewed six population groups in The Netherlands, Finland and the United States, comprising a total of over 100,000 people, who were free of cardiovascular disease at the start. The participants were followed up for between six and 28 years, during which time there were 2155 cases of stroke, both fatal and non-fatal. The researchers attempted to correlate stroke risk with increased flavonol intake, of which tea is a major source. They found that increasing intake of flavonols is linked with a decrease of stroke risk of up to 20%. A similar study last year found that stroke risk was reduced by a higher intake of both black and green tea. Read more

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03/16/2010 - Articles

Antidepressants help stroke survivors

Antidepressants act on the brain and a new study suggests they help not just with depression, but also after a stroke. While clot-busting drugs can help people survive a stroke, the problem is how to help them regain their cognitive and physical function after the damage that the stroke has done to the brain. Researchers from the University of Iowa now report on a promising new study, involving the antidepressant drug escitalopram. This is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) a widely used class of antidepressants which increases levels of serotonin in the brain. The study involved 129 stroke survivors. Within three months of the stroke, patients received either 5 to 10 mg of escitalopram or placebo a day, or they took part in a problem-solving therapy which had been developed for patients with depression. Read more

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12/23/2009 - Articles

Keeping Your Mouth Healthy May Help Prevent Stroke

Think the way you care for your teeth and gums affects only your mouth? Think again. Read more

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