Middle-aged folks who had high blood pressure since they were young adults show brain changes that may increase their risk of future mental decline, a new study says. Previous research has found that high blood pressure affects the structure and function of the brain’s blood vessels, resulting in damage to regions of the brain that… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
A Better Clot-Buster Drug When Strokes Attack?
A newer type of “clot-busting” medication might be safer than the one long used for treating strokes, a preliminary study hints. Researchers found that among nearly 7,900 stroke sufferers, those treated with the drug — called tenecteplase — were less likely to suffer life-threatening brain bleeding as a side effect, compared to those given the… read on > read on >
Kids With COVID-Linked MIS-C Have Long-Term Symptoms
Following a bout of severe COVID-19, some children suffer lasting neurological complications, part of a rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a new study finds. The neurological symptoms are wide-ranging, and can include headaches, difficulty falling and staying asleep, daytime sleepiness, brain fog, attention difficulties, social problems, anxiety and depression, all of… read on > read on >
Could a Chewing Gum in Pregnancy Help Prevent Premature Deliveries?
Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk for preterm birth, and now new research suggests that chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol during pregnancy may lower this risk. The study took place in Malawi, Africa, which has one of the world’s highest rates of preterm delivery. Experts are quick to caution that it’s too… read on > read on >
AHA News: COVID-19 Linked to Risk of Dangerous Blood Clots in Stroke Patients
THURSDAY, Feb. 3, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Older stroke patients who had a history of COVID-19 were more likely to develop dangerous blood clots in the veins than those who did not have the coronavirus-driven disease, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Blood clots that form in… read on > read on >
Stroke Rate Rises Among Young Americans, Even as It Declines for Seniors
Although there’s been a marked decline in rates of stroke among older adults over the past 30 years, growing numbers of young Americans are having strokes. Obesity may be one reason why, experts say. “The decline in strokes in people aged 50 and older is likely due to better stroke risk factor control, such as… read on > read on >
Almost All Americans Are Now Within 1 Hour of Good Stroke Care
Nine in 10 Americans — 91% — live within an hour of lifesaving stroke care, researchers say. That’s up from about 80% a decade ago, due to an increase in hospitals with specialized staff, tools and resources, as well as expanded use of telestroke services that use the internet to link small and rural hospitals… read on > read on >
Stroke Risk Highest for Older COVID Patients Soon After Diagnosis
Stroke is a possible complication of COVID-19, and researchers say they now know when that risk is highest. A new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the risk of COVID-related ischemic stroke appears greatest in the first three days after you’re diagnosed with the virus. Not just higher, but 10… read on > read on >
Young Pot Smokers May Be at Higher Odds for Repeat Strokes
Young adult pot smokers who’ve suffered a stroke are more likely to have another stroke if they keep toking, a new study finds. Research has already linked heavy cannabis use with an increased risk of stroke, but this new study showed that risk remains high even after a first stroke, with pot users nearly 50%… read on > read on >
Could the ‘Love Hormone’ Help Drive Sex Addiction in Men?
Men compelled to find myriad new partners and ways to have sex may be driven by high levels of the so-called “love hormone,” oxytocin, new research suggests. Oxytocin, which is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland, plays a key role in sexual behavior, and abnormal levels are believed to play a… read on > read on >