ScienceDaily: Stroke Prevention News

Depression linked to almost doubled stroke risk in middle-aged women

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

Depression among women 47-52 years old is associated with an almost doubled risk of stroke. Researchers call for greater awareness of depression as a preventable risk factor for stroke among younger middle-aged women.

Accelerated aging in children: Promising treatment for progeria within reach

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:25 EDT

Pharmaceuticals that inhibit a specific enzyme may be useful in treating progeria, or accelerated aging in children. A new study indicates that the development of progeria in mice was inhibited upon reducing the production of this enzyme.

Long-term outcomes in patients with advanced coronary artery disease are better than expected

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:45:45 EDT

Death rates associated with patients with refractory angina, or chronic chest pain, are lower than previously considered; therefore, physicians should focus on relieving the chest pain symptoms and improving the quality of life in these patients according to a new article.

Living close to major road may impair kidney function

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24:24 EDT

Living close to a major road may impair kidney function -- itself a risk factor for heart disease and stroke -- and so help contribute to the known impact of air pollution on cardiovascular risk, suggests new research.

Increased risk of heart attack and death with progressive coronary artery calcium buildup

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Patients with increasing buildups of coronary artery calcium face a six-fold increase in risk of heart attack or death from heart disease.

Five 'sudden symptoms' of stroke: Recognizing these could save a life – even a young life

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Quickly recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical care from stroke specialists can minimize the effects of the disease or even save a life. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Nearly 20 percent of strokes occur in people younger than age 55.

Zinc: The Goldilocks metal for bioabsorbable stents?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:44:44 EDT

Stents can be lifesavers, propping open blood vessels to allow for healthy blood flow. But the longer a stent is in the body, the greater the risk of side effects such as inflammation and clotting. Designing a stent that will dissolve harmlessly after the artery has healed has been a challenge. Now scientistsare experimenting with a novel material that may lead to a new generation of bioabsorbable stents: zinc.

Teen years may be critical in later stroke risk

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

The teenage years may be a key period of vulnerability related to living in the "stroke belt" when it comes to future stroke risk, according to a new study.

Air pollution and hardening of arteries

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

Long term exposure to air pollution may be linked to heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries", according to a new study.

New method to assess options for heart-disease surgery

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Researchers have developed a method of predicting which patients with heart disease would benefit more from surgery and which would benefit more from angioplasty.

Development of novel therapies for endothelial damage may heal atherosclerotic plaques

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:38:38 EDT

Heart disease and approximately half of all strokes are the results of advanced atherosclerosis with damaged endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels. In 2009, the direct and indirect annual cost of heart disease and stroke was approximately $312.6 billion. Projections are for the total cost of heart disease to increase from $523 to $1.126 billion from 2013 to 2030.

Long-term exposure to fine particles of traffic pollution increases risk of heart disease

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

Long-term exposure to fine particle matter air pollution in part derived from traffic pollution is also associated with atherosclerosis independent of traffic noise.

Inpatients who have STEMI heart attacks more likely to die than outpatients

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:39:39 EDT

A new study finds that patients who suffer a STEMI heart attack while hospitalized are 10 times more likely to die than patients who suffer a STEMI outside the hospital.

L-carnitine significantly improves patient outcomes following heart attack, study suggests

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:23:23 EDT

L-carnitine significantly improves cardiac health in patients after a heart attack, say a multicenter team of investigators in a study. Their findings, based on analysis of key controlled trials, associate L-carnitine with significant reduction in death from all causes and a highly significant reduction in ventricular arrhythmias and anginal attacks following a heart attack, compared with placebo or control.

New procedure safely opens blocked carotid arteries, experts say

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Doctors have become the first on the West Coast to perform a new, less-invasive procedure to help clear plaque-ridden carotid arteries.

Manipulating calcium accumulation in blood vessels may provide a new way to treat heart disease

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:35:35 EDT

Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is the primary cause of heart disease. It's caused by calcium accumulation in the blood vessels, which leads to obstruction of blood flow and heart complications. Although many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the cause isn't known and there's currently no way to reverse it once it sets in. In a new study, researchers have characterized the cells responsible for driving this calcium build-up in vessel walls.

New link between heart disease and red meat: New understanding of cardiovascular health benefits of vegan, vegetarian diets

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:33:33 EDT

A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis -- or the hardening or clogging of the arteries.

MRI measure of blood flow over atherosclerotic plaque may detect dangerous plaque

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:49:49 EDT

Researchers have shown that using magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood flow over atherosclerotic plaques could help identify plaques at risk for thrombosis.

Shift of language function to right hemisphere impedes post-stroke aphasia recovery

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:19:19 EDT

In a study designed to differentiate why some stroke patients recover from aphasia and others do not, investigators have found that a compensatory reorganization of language function to right hemispheric brain regions bodes poorly for language recovery. Patients who recovered from aphasia showed a return to normal left-hemispheric language activation patterns.

Course of cardiovascular events more predictable: A protein enables risk assessment

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:30:30 EDT

Medical researchers have managed to predict the probability of a cardiovascular patient suffering a heart attack, stroke or arterial occlusion within three months. In the long-term, this knowledge may enable targeted preventive measures.

Eating more fiber may lower risk of first-time stroke

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:14:14 EDT

Eating more fiber may decrease your risk of first-time stroke, according to new research.

Certified stroke centers more likely to give clot-busting drugs

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:23:23 EDT

Stroke patients are three times more likely to receive clot-busting medication if they're treated at a hospital certified as a primary stroke center. There is a limited window of opportunity for using the drugs, so getting to a hospital quickly for treatment is important. Call 9-1-1 at the first sign of stroke symptoms.

Atherosclerosis: Specific microRNAs promote inflammation

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory reaction, is at the root of the most common forms of cardiovascular disease. Researchers have now identified a microRNA that plays a prominent role in the process, and offers a promising target for new therapies.

Coffee, green tea, may help lower stroke risk, research shows

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Green tea and coffee may help lower your risks of having a stroke, especially when both are a regular part of your diet. People who drank either green tea or coffee daily had about approximately 20~30 percent lower risk for one type of stroke, compared to those who seldom drank them.

Do blood thinners and stroke treatment mean danger? Study indicates risk is low

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:53:53 EDT

Millions of Americans take drugs to reduce their risk of heart attacks caused by blood clots. A new study suggests that a fear of brain bleeding if these patients receive stroke therapy may be unfounded, at least for most patients taking common clot-preventing therapies.

High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:26:26 EDT

Heart attack patients given a combination of high-dose oral vitamins and minerals do not exhibit a significant reduction in recurrent cardiac events, according to new research. However, the study shows that when combined with active chelation therapy, high-dose vitamins and minerals may provide some additional benefit.

Drug reduces chest pain in patients with diabetes

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:26:26 EDT

A commonly used anti-anginal drug reduces chest pain in patients with type 2 diabetes and appears to have a more pronounced effect in those with poorer glucose control, according to new research.

Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty, study suggests

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:26:26 EDT

A clot-busting therapy may benefit some heart attack patients who cannot have immediate angioplasty, according to new research.

Drug may improve outcomes after heart attack

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:25:25 EDT

The prescription drug eplerenone appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure after a heart attack by more than one-third, according to new research.

New anti-clotting drug more effective than current treatment, study suggests

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:18:18 EDT

A new and experimental anti-clotting drug, cangrelor, proved better than the commonly used clopidogrel and was significantly more effective at preventing blood clots in a large trial of patients who underwent coronary stent procedures.

A new drug reduces heart damage, study suggests

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:37:37 EDT

A single dose of an investigational anti-inflammatory drug called inclacumab considerably reduces damage to heart muscle during angioplasty (the opening of a blocked artery), according to a recent international clinical trial.

Clogged heart arteries can foreshadow stroke

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:15 EST

Blockages in your heart arteries could mean you're more likely to have a stroke, even if you're considered low risk, according to new research.

Thyroid hormones reduce damage and improve heart function after myocardial infarction in rats

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:58:58 EST

A new study shows that thyroid hormones administered to rats at the time of a heart attack improved their heart function and significantly reduced their loss of heart muscle cells. Researchers believe the study prepares them to pursue studies on human patients, which could lead to breakthroughs in cardiac failure treatment.

First signs of heart disease seen in newborns of overweight/obese mums

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:56:56 EST

The walls of the body's major artery -- the aorta -- are already thickened in babies born to mums who are overweight or obese, finds a small study.

Fish oil component reduces brain damage in newborns, mouse study suggests

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:49:49 EST

Scientists found the novel use of a component of fish oil reduced brain trauma in newborn mice.

Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:34:34 EST

Smokers increase their risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke with every cigarette they smoke. Conversely, those who quit smoking even at an advanced age will have a considerable decrease in their risk after a very short time.

Hospitalization: Strong link between income inequality and readmission risk, but not mortality

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:41:41 EST

Income inequality is associated with an increased risk of readmission to hospital, but not mortality, finds a large US study of older patients.

New therapeutic target for coronary heart disease

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:18:18 EST

Scientists investigating how certain genes affect an individual's risk of developing coronary heart disease have identified a new therapeutic target, according to new research.

Almost 8 percent of US stroke survivors may have suicidal thoughts

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:15:15 EST

Stroke survivors are more likely to report recent suicidal thoughts or wish they were dead compared with individuals with previous heart attack, diabetes or cancer. Seven variables were important in predicting whether a person with stroke had recent suicidal thoughts: depression score, age, BMI, education level, socioeconomic status, gender and marital status.

Native Hawaiians have bleeding strokes at earlier age, independent of meth use

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

Native Hawaiians have more bleeding strokes at an earlier age than other people independent of methamphetamine abuse. Besides genetics, environmental factors -- such as diet, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of good healthcare could also affect the higher incidences. Researchers suggest more focus is needed on controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and weight management in this population.

Smoking marijuana associated with higher stroke risk in young adults

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:10:10 EST

Marijuana use may double the risk of stroke in young adults. The New Zealand findings are the first from a case-controlled study to indicate a potential link between marijuana and stroke.

Chest pain prior to a heart attack can protect the heart

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:20:20 EST

Patients who experience chest pain in the 24 hours preceding a heart attack, also called preinfarction angina, have smaller heart attacks and improved cardiac function in the contemporary cardiac stenting era, researchers found.

Up to 15 percent of transient ischemic attacks patients will suffer full strokes within 3 months

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:43:43 EST

Each year, as many as 500,000 Americans experience mini strokes called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Up to 15 percent will go on to experience full-blown strokes within three months.

Study shows high risk and impact of stroke after vascular surgery

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:25:25 EST

Patients undergoing major vascular surgery procedures are at increased risk of stroke, leading to a high mortality rate and prolonged hospitalization, according to a new study.

High risk of cardiovascular diseases amongst Swedish-born and immigrant MS patients

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:46:46 EST

A new study from Sweden shows that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) run a high risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, regardless of migration background. The study is the first in the world to examine the risk of cardiovascular diseases in male and female MS patients with both non-immigrant and immigrant backgrounds.

New stroke gene discovery could lead to tailored treatments

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:08:08 EST

Scientists have identified a new genetic variant associated with stroke. By exploring the genetic variants linked with blood clotting -- a process that can lead to a stroke -- scientists have discovered a gene which is associated with large vessel and cardioembolic stroke but has no connection to small vessel stroke.

People having stroke should get therapy within 60 minutes of hospital arrival

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:30:30 EST

People having an ischemic stroke should receive clot-dissolving therapy -- if appropriate -- within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital, according to new American Stroke Association guidelines.

Long-Term Outcomes Favor Heart Surgery Over Stents and Angioplasty

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 07:44:44 EST

Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery have a lower overall composite risk for heart attack, stroke, and death in the 4 years following the procedure compared to patients who undergo stenting or balloon procedures, according to a new study.

Stem cells aid recovery from stroke, study suggests

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:58:58 EST

Stem cells from bone marrow or fat improve recovery after stroke in rats, finds a new study. Treatment with stem cells improved the amount of brain and nerve repair and the ability of the animals to complete behavioral tasks. Stem cell therapy holds promise for patients but there are many questions which need to be answered, regarding treatment protocols and which cell types to use.

Depressed stroke survivors may face triple the risk of death

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:57:57 EST

People who are depressed after a stroke may have a tripled risk of dying early and four times the risk of death from stroke than people who have not experienced a stroke or depression, according to a new study.

Treating the most feared and devastating strokes

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:57:57 EST

Among the most feared and devastating strokes are ones caused by blockages in the brain's critical basilar artery system. They can cause head-to-toe paralysis called "locked-in syndrome. However, a minority of patients can have good outcomes, especially with new MRI technologies and time-sensitive treatments. These treatments include the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and various new-generation neurothrombectomy devices, according to a review article.

Autopsy-based study examines prevalence of atherosclerosis among U.S. service members

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:03:03 EST

Among deployed U.S. service members who died of combat or unintentional injuries between 2001-2011 and underwent autopsies, the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis was 8.5 percent, with factors associated with a higher prevalence of the disease including older age, lower educational level and prior diagnoses of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity, according to a new study.

Lifestyle changes linked to better outcomes after peripheral intervention

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:46:46 EST

Heart-healthy habits help patients with PAD, but lifestyle changes and medical therapy are dramatically underused by patients and their doctors.

Administration of clopidogrel prior to PCI associated with reduction in major cardiac events

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:17:17 EST

Among patients scheduled for a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), pretreatment with the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel was not associated with a lower risk of overall mortality but was associated with a significantly lower risk of major coronary events

Silent stroke can cause Parkinson's disease

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:19:19 EST

Scientists have for the first time identified why a patient who appears outwardly healthy may develop Parkinson's disease.

New guidelines can improve treatment for severe heart attack patients

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:04:04 EST

New streamlined guidelines will help healthcare providers better treat patients with the most severe type of heart attacks, according to an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology statement.

Changes in the gut bacteria protect against stroke, research finds

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:10:10 EST

Researchers in Sweden demonstrate that an altered gut microbiota in humans is associated with symptomatic atherosclerosis and stroke.

Treat snoring to avoid deadly heart failure

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:43:43 EST

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have the same early cardiovascular damage as diabetics, according to new research.

Healthy eating beneficial beyond drug therapy in preventing a second heart attack

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:29:29 EST

A heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish significantly reduces the chance of a second heart attack and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease, researchers have found.

Enzyme explains angina in diabetics

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:41:41 EST

Scientists have shown that an enzyme called arginase might have a key part to play in the development of cardiovascular disease in patients who already have type II diabetes. According to the team, arginase prevents the formation of protective nitrogen oxide in the blood vessels, and treatments that inhibit this enzyme reduce the risk of angina in diabetics.