Strokes. People have heard of them. Many think they know what they are. Many don’t know the signs of a stroke. Are you at risk of having a stroke? Would you know if you or someone else was having a stroke?

The World Stroke Organization is encouraging everyone to become more aware of strokes and to help prevent the disability and death that so often occur after a stroke.

The World Stroke Organization (WSO) was created on October 29, 2006, at the Regional World Stroke Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, when the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation merged into a single organization. Since then, to commemorate its conception,the World Stroke Day is held on October 29.

According to their website:

Worldwide, stroke accounts for 5.7 million deaths each year and ranks second to ischemic heart disease as a cause of death; it is also a leading cause of serious disability, sparing no age, sex, ethnic origin, or country.

Strokes, medically called cerebrovascular accidents, or CVAs, can often be prevented. If they aren’t prevented, many are treatable IF the person gets help fast enough. To get help fast enough, the stroke needs to be recognized for what it is.

What can you do?

You can learn about strokes. Some good resources are:

• Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. (NINDS)
• Stroke (CDC)
• Stroke (FDA)

You can find out what your risk is with this Ohio State University Medical Center Stroke Risk Assessment.

And, you can download and read this brochure from the WSO:

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Images: World Stroke Organization

Post from: Blisstree

World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, 2009.

The long-lasting effects from a stroke can be very mild to very severe. It all depends on where the damage was done in the brain, if it was minor or severe, how long it took to get treatment if treatment is available, and if any other medical issues came up at the same time or during the recovery.

To get an idea of what is involved in recovering after a stroke, click on the TV screen below to watch a video that explains it quite well:

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Image: iStock

Post from: Blisstree

After a stroke

The facts are:

• African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke as whites
• First strokes in African Americans are almost twice of whites
• African American men, aged 45 to 54 years old, have 3 x a higher risk of having an ischemic stroke (brain tissue deprived of nutrients) than their white counterparts

A new study from the University of South Florida Health , has found that “Florida, black young adults are hospitalized for stroke at a rate three times higher than their white and Hispanic peers.”

Other findings:

• African-Americans were 3 x more likely to need hospital care than whites or Hispanics, which were similar
• Hospitalized African Americans, for strokes, had a higher death rate than whites
• Hospitalized Hispanics were 27% less likely to die than whites
• African Americans who had strokes were more often found to also have high blood pressure, morbid obesity, and/or a history of drug abuse, compared to whites and Hispanics
• Whites who had strokes were most often to have high blood pressure, abuse alcohol and/or smoke
• Women outnumbered men in the African-American stroke group while men outnumbered women in the white and Hispanic groups
• African-Americans, like whites, were most likely to have a stroke caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain, while Hispanics were more likely to have a stroke caused by a burst blood vessel

A good point made in this press release, Black young adults hospitalized for stroke at much higher rate than whites, Hispanics , is that researchers are “concerned that tough economic times may lead to rise in strokes and other cardiovascular incidents. ‘When people stop taking their blood pressure pills and other medications because they can no longer afford it, they have strokes and heart attacks.’”

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Image: istock.com

Post from: Blisstree

Stroke outcome still differs between races

On the island of Okinawa the people live a very long and healthy life. The history of the island shows that chronic diseases are practically non-existent. Their elderly do not suffer from dementia, heart attacks or strokes and cancer is almost unheard of.

Along with a much healthier diet the Japanese people drink green tea as their drink of choice, because of the powerful antioxidants it contains.

Drinking green tea puts the Japanese at a much lower risk of stroke, cancer and heart disease. Research shows, that drinking green tea lowers your cholesterol and blood pressure as well.

The Japanese also stop eating when they are about 80% full. They do not fill their plates until they are overflowing, and go back for more.

We as a country are killing our children and ourselves with food and we are the only ones that can stop it.

http://www.naturalnews.com/024715.html

Post from: Blisstree

Japanese And Heart Disease

Even with this amazing news, the death count for Americans in 2006 from heart attacks and strokes was still at 829,072.

On an average one American dies from heart disease every 37 seconds.

A study on cholesterol levels in men men over 40 and women over 60 showed a 2% improvement. The same study showed no improvement in younger people.

We also have a rise in children with high cholesterol, due to their eating habits and little or no exercise. Obesity is a major factor in children with high cholesterol, 4% of the children from 1971-74 were considered obese. The same study showed from 2003-06 a remarkable rise to 17%, of children that are obese.

Results from two National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute studies show that in adults ages 33 to 45, 15% of men and 5.1% of women already had calcification and 1.6% had a calcification score above 100, which may indicate a significant burden of plaque.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-sci-heart16-2008dec16,0,4082880.story

Post from: Blisstree

Great News In Heart And Stroke Study

The maker of Vioxx has agreed to pay $4.85bn to settle legal claims that the controversial drug caused many users to suffer strokes and heart failure.

Holy Potatoes is what I have to say. But I guess it could have been far worse when you really stop and think about it. In order to qualify for compensation you must prove that you suffered serious illness at the most 2 weeks after you purchased the drug.

The above amount of money will be able to settle over 90% of Vioxx lawsuits with the exception of class action suits. Like I said, it could have been worse for Merck.
via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Merck Set To Pay $4.85 Billion To Settle On Vioxx Lawsuits

Scientists have long reported that deaths from lung diseases, heart attacks and strokes are significantly higher on days with high pollution levels, the newspaper said.

This was reported out of Los Angeles, imagine that. A US study has shown the exposure to diesel exhaust can cause heart disease in people with high cholesterol. Hmm… Can’t anything trigger a heart attack in people with extremely high cholesterol?

This is why you always have to take research with a grain of salt. True diesel exhaust has been linked to lung cancer and asthma attacks, as well as DNA damage, but this is first to suggest that it can induce a heart attack. Just how is this possible you ask?

The report said diesel particles enter the body from the lungs and then react with fats in the arteries to alter how genes are activated.

Bottom line, more research needs to be done. I will keep you updated as it comes in.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Diesel Exhaust Can Trigger A Heart Attack