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.

Proactively screening diabetes patients for heart disease does not improve long-term survival

While coronary heart disease and diabetes are often seen in the same patients, a diagnosis of diabetes does not necessarily mean that patients also have coronary heart disease, according to a new study from researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City.

18 Nov 2024

New risk score identifies heart disease risk in kidney transplant patients

Using an innovative risk score assessment score, heart researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City say they can accurately predict whether patients being assessed for kidney transplant will likely have a future major cardiac event, like a heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

18 Nov 2024

Blood pressure control improved with dual medication pills in India

Medication variations that combined two of three different blood pressure-lowering medications into a single pill worked equally well in reducing blood pressure and were safe among adults in India, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Hypertension drug may reduce heart failure risk in people recovering from heart attack

New research found that the medication spironolactone, often prescribed for hypertension (high blood pressure), may reduce the risk of heart failure in people recovering from a heart attack.

18 Nov 2024

Edoxaban proves effective in preventing blood clots, stroke after heart valve surgery

Edoxaban, an oral anticoagulant, was equally or more effective than warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke and blood clots for patients after heart valve replacement surgery, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Intravenous infusion of exenatide fails to reduce risks of complications in heart surgery patients

A large-scale clinical trial found that intravenous infusion of exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog medication, during heart surgeries involving bypass did not significantly reduce the risk of death, stroke or organ failure.

18 Nov 2024

Intensive blood pressure treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in people with Type 2 diabetes

An intensive treatment approach to lowering high systolic blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes led to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death due to cardiovascular disease when compared to a standard treatment approach, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Tirzepatide improves heart health and function in obese HFpEF patients

In the international SUMMIT trial, adults with heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity taking tirzepatide for up to 3 years had a reduced combined risk of worsening heart failure events and cardiovascular death, and improved health status and physical function in comparison to participants taking placebo, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Anticoagulants fail to reduce cognitive decline in younger adults with AFib

Prescribing anti-clotting medications to adults younger than age 65 who have atrial fibrillation (AFib) but no other risk factors for stroke did not reduce the risk of cognitive decline, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024.

18 Nov 2024

Increased physical activity could add 5 years to American lifespan

If every American over the age of 40 was as physically active as the top 25% of the population, they could expect to live an extra 5 years, on average, suggest the findings of a modelling study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

15 Nov 2024

Obesity crisis in the U.S. expected to worsen by 2050

Over the past three decades, there has been a startling increase in the prevalence of obesity across the USA, at least doubling in adult men and women (aged 25 and older) and older female and male adolescents (aged 15-24 years) since 1990, with the number of people living with overweight and obesity reaching over 208 million in 2021 - a trend set to continue in the coming decades without significant reform, according to a major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study Collaborator Network, published in The Lancet.

15 Nov 2024

2024 first aid guidelines offer expanded recommendations for emergency care

The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross today released the "2024 Guidelines for First Aid," which provide critical updates that equip first aid responders with the latest evidence-based practices to effectively respond to mild, moderate and life-threatening emergencies.

14 Nov 2024

Long-term sedentary behavior raises blood pressure in youth

Time spent sedentary beyond six hours per day during growth from childhood through young adulthood may cause an excess increase of 4 mmHg in systolic blood pressure, a new study shows.

14 Nov 2024

Update on diagnosis, risk classification and treatment of Kawasaki Disease

Advances in cardiac imaging techniques and risk categorization have led to improvements in diagnosis, initial treatment and long-term management of patients with Kawasaki Disease, according to a new scientific statement published today in the American Heart Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

14 Nov 2024

BMI's influence on disease pathogenesis uncovered in new research

The study highlights BMI's role in mediating genetic risk for diseases, suggesting a complex relationship with conditions like heart failure and osteoarthritis.

14 Nov 2024

Primary care clinicians key to achieving optimal cardiovascular health

Primary care clinicians and practices are uniquely positioned to help people achieve optimal cardiovascular health through screening, diagnosing and treating the health behaviors and factors outlined in the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 health metrics to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke, according to a new scientific statement published today in the Association's peer-reviewed journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

13 Nov 2024

Singer Amy Grant highlights the need for support to fight women's heart disease

Singer-songwriter and musician, Amy Grant understands first-hand that cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the No. 1 cause of death for women.

13 Nov 2024

New initiative aims to tackle high blood pressure in Philadelphia communities

At least 33% of people in Philadelphia – more in West and Southwest Philadelphia – suffer from high blood pressure. But many of them don't know it – that's why the condition, also known as hypertension, is known as "the silent killer."

13 Nov 2024

Researchers discover new target for treating atherosclerosis

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a new target to treat atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque clogs arteries and causes major cardiac issues, including stroke and heart attack.

13 Nov 2024

High blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and smoking linked to severe stroke risk

People with conditions or habits such as high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or smoking, not only have a higher risk of stroke, they may also have more severe strokes than people without these risk factors, according to a study published in the November 13, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

13 Nov 2024