October 15, 2020

AHA News: Flu and COVID-19 Are Bad Enough, But They Also Can Raise Stroke Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- It's flu season. In the middle of a coronavirus pandemic. Is this any time to be thinking about your risk of stroke?

Yes, researchers say. Having either influenza or the coronavirus seems to increase the odds of having an ischemic stroke – the type where blood flow in the brain is blocked. While the number of people affected may be small, understanding the dynamics can help everyone protect themselves.

October 12, 2020

Arm Squeezes With Blood Pressure Cuffs Might Aid Recovery After Stroke

THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2020 -- After administering clot-busting drugs to treat a stroke, using blood pressure cuffs to squeeze each arm might aid recovery, a new, small Chinese study suggests.

In the technique -- called remote ischemic post-conditioning -- the flow of oxygen-rich blood is repeatedly interrupted and restored using blood pressure cuffs on the arms. Earlier studies have found that the technique may prevent tissue damage by helping the body handle changes in blood flow and the damage that may occur from a stroke, researchers say.

October 5, 2020

AHA News: Despite Same Symptoms, Men and Women Don't Always Get Same Mini-Stroke Diagnosis

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- A transient ischemic attack, often called a mini-stroke, usually doesn't last long or cause permanent damage. But it still needs medical attention, because it may be warning of a future stroke that can have dire consequences.

Research has shown women are less likely than men to be diagnosed with TIAs, and a study published Wednesday in the American Heart Association journal Stroke aimed to explore why.

September 21, 2020

Smoking Ups Your Risk of a Fatal Brain Bleed

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2020 -- Smokers have a significantly raised risk of dying from a bleeding stroke, a new study warns.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 same-sex twin pairs in Finland. The twins were born before 1958 and followed for about 42 years (between 1976 and 2018).

September 21, 2020

AHA News: Young Women May Face Greater Stroke Risk Than Young Men

FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Young women are more likely than their male peers to have a stroke, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed a claims database of insured people in the United States from 2001 to 2014, tallying the number of ischemic, or clot-caused, strokes based on hospital admissions. People with a history of stroke or other cerebrovascular disease were not included in the study.

September 2, 2020

Rare 'Brain Vein' Strokes Are on the Rise

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 -- Most strokes strike when an artery in the brain suddenly becomes blocked, but new research shows a rarer cause of strokes is becoming more common.

It's called cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), and it happens when a vein in the brain is clogged. While CVT is estimated to cause less than 1% of all strokes, scientists discovered it is now more prevalent and affecting a different demographic than previously thought.