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.

August 18, 2020

Why Is Stroke a Bigger Threat to Black People?

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 -- Stroke is more deadly among Black people than whites, and the reason may come down to genetics.

Researchers who studied the genomes of more than 21,000 Black people found that a common variation near the HNF1A gene was tied to an increased risk of stroke in people of African descent.

August 3, 2020

Fewer Recurrent Strokes Now in Mexican Americans

THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 -- The rate of second strokes among Mexican Americans has declined steeply since the turn of the century, a new study finds.

Between 2000 and 2013, the rate of recurrent stroke fell faster in Mexican Americans than in white people. By 2013, there was no difference between the two groups.

August 3, 2020

AHA News: Flu Shot May Help Protect Vulnerable Hospital Patients From Heart Attack, Mini-Stroke

MONDAY, July 27, 2020 (American Heart Association News) -- Hospital patients at high risk for influenza had lower rates of death, heart attack, mini-stroke and cardiac arrest if they were vaccinated against flu during their hospital stay, a new study has found.

The study focused on certain groups at high risk for flu and its complications: those 50 and older, nursing homes residents, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and people with a chronic medical condition, AIDS or obesity. All but the American Indian/Alaska Native group were less likely than other hospitalized patients to receive an in-hospital flu vaccination.