Stroke News and Research

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A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Leucine may help people burn fat during periods of food restriction

Research on Mt. Everest climbers is adding to the evidence that an amino acid called leucine - found in foods, dietary supplements, energy bars and other products - may help people burn fat during periods of food restriction, such as climbing at high altitude, while keeping their muscle tissue.

29 Aug 2011

Dabigatran etexilate superior to warfarin for stroke prevention in AF patients

New data from two RE-LY trial sub-group analyses show that dabigatran etexilate provides consistent benefits in stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to well-controlled warfarin, irrespective of whether patients use antiplatelet or other concomitant therapies, such as the anti-arrhythmics amiodarone or verapamil.

29 Aug 2011

AF AWARE campaign launches Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care tool

The AF AWARE campaign today, at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2011 in Paris, announces the launch of the Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care (AFIP) tool, developed to help primary care physicians (PCPs) with early diagnosis and optimal management of patients with atrial fibrillation.

29 Aug 2011

Thirty two projects to receive €1M donation for prevention of AF-related stroke

Last night at an award ceremony in Paris, the 32 winning projects of the global disease awareness initiative 1 Mission 1 Million - Getting to the Heart of Stroke were announced.

29 Aug 2011

Chocolate consumption might reduce risk of heart disease

High levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

29 Aug 2011

EAS/ESC develops new dyslipidaemias guidelines

Clinicians should aim for comprehensive lipid control using lifestyle as a first step and tailoring treatment to patients. Lifestyle interventions, including stopping smoking, improving diet, exercising sufficiently and moderate alcohol consumption, should be the crucial first step for managing lipids in all patients.

29 Aug 2011

One in three AF patients at high risk of stroke are not being prescribed VKA therapy

New data show that, worldwide, one in three patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are at high risk for stroke are not being prescribed anticoagulant therapy, particularly vitamin K antagonists (VKA) – medicines known to significantly lower stroke risk in these patients.

29 Aug 2011

ELIQUIS better than warfarin in reduction of stroke, major bleeding, and mortality

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc. today announced the main results of the Phase 3 clinical trial ARISTOTLE, which evaluated ELIQUIS compared to warfarin for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in 18,201 patients with atrial fibrillation and at least one risk factor for stroke.

29 Aug 2011

Strong link between leisure-time physical activity and AF among men

A Norwegian survey carried out between 1974 and 2003 showed that there was a graded independent increase in the risk of AF with increasing levels of physical activity in a population-based study among men with ostensibly no other heart disease. In women the data were inconclusive.

29 Aug 2011

U.S. medical costs linked with treatment of preventable diseases to reach $66B per year

The rising prevalence of obesity around the globe places an increasing burden on the health of populations, on healthcare systems and on overall economies. A major challenge for researchers is to quantify the effect of these burdens to inform public policies.

29 Aug 2011

Scientists identify six new genetic variants associated with type 2 diabetes in South Asians

An international team of researchers led by Imperial College London has identified six new genetic variants associated with type-2 diabetes in South Asians. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, give scientists new leads in the search for diagnostic markers and drug targets to prevent and treat this major disease.

29 Aug 2011

Apixaban superior to warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolism

A large-scale trial finds that apixaban, a new anticoagulant drug, is superior to the standard drug warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.

29 Aug 2011

Foods that can reduce cholesterol

At present those with cholesterol are prescribed cholesterol lowering drugs like statins and a diet that cuts out foods high in saturated fat. New research shows that some foods may help to lower cholesterol.

26 Aug 2011

Research roundup: The costs of obesity; Patients' post-hospital medicine; Women and heart failure

Association of ICU or Hospital Admission With Unintentional Discontinuation of Medications for Chronic Diseases -- Researchers examined records of older people admitted to a hospital in Ontario, Canada from 1997-2009 who were already taking medicines for chronic health problems. They measured "failure to renew the prescription within 90 days after hospital discharge," and found that patients "prescribed medications for chronic diseases were at risk for potentially unintentional discontinuation after hospital admission.

26 Aug 2011

ESC introduces update to HeartScore application

The number of heart attack and stroke incidents in Europe is likely to reduce with the imminent launch of an update to the HeartScore® application. HeartScore® was first developed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2004, and it helps clinicians rapidly estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individual patients using age, gender, basic health indicators, and lifestyle factors.

26 Aug 2011

New test to better predict heart attack risk in women

The biggest killer of women over the age of 50 is heart disease. By age 65 women have the same heart attack or stroke risk as men and a greater risk of dying from either. To help better predict heart attack risk in these women, Atherotech Diagnostics Lab has developed a new and better way to test for heart disease risk. The new test will soon be available exclusively through Atherotech Diagnostics Lab.

26 Aug 2011