Heavy Coffee Drinking Reduces Brain Volume
Heavy coffee consumption raises risk of dementia and stroke.
Read MoreFresh Fruit Daily Lowers Cardiovascular Risk
Researchers in China followed almost a half-million people for seven years finding when they consumed more fresh fruit they had lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular deaths were 40% lower in those who consumed fresh fruit daily compared to those who never or rarely did. Because the Chinese typically eat little fresh fruit, this…
Read MoreNo Safe Level for Smoking
Lighting up just one time per day poses a significantly increased risk for heart disease and stroke. This large meta-analysis of 141 studies in 21 countries found smoking one cigarette a day was associated with a 48-74% increased risk in men, and a 57-118% risk for women. PositiveTip: Remember, light smoking, smoking fewer cigarettes, and…
Read More10 Controllable Risk Factors Can Prevent Most Strokes
One of the leading causes of death and disability in the world is stroke. Researchers have found there are 10 controllable risk factors that account for 90% of all strokes globally. Hypertension is the cause of 39-60% of strokes (varies among regions). The other nine causes: physical inactivity (36%), high blood lipids (fats) (27%), poor…
Read MorePot Smokers at Risk for Brain Vessel Blockage
As marijuana (cannabis) use increases, particularly in the young, there is growing concern that younger (under 50) users are at higher risk for ischemic strokes. French research had found regular cannabis users were 3 times as likely to experience intercranial stenosis (narrowing of brain arteries) as non-pot smokers. More research is needed to determine if this finding is causally…
Read MoreA Stroke Impacts Spouse’s Health, Too
Swedish researchers report caring for a spouse who had a stroke may negatively impact their mental and physical health for years to come. The two most important predictors of the caregiver spouse's quality of life was the extent of the spouse's stroke disability and their own age. Even when stroke survivors impairment was relatively mild the…
Read MoreObesity Increases Risk of Stroke in Younger Adults
Researchers compared 1,201 people who had their first stroke between ages 15-49 with a control group who had no strokes. After adjusting for age, race, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure the obese men had a 34% higher risk of stroke and women a 7% higher risk than the normal weight controls. Because this studied relied on…
Read MoreWalking Lowers Risk of Stroke
A British study of over 3000 healthy men ages 60-80 found as their walking increased their risk of stroke decreased. Those who walked 8-14 hours per week had one-third the risk of stroke compared to those who walked 3 hours per week or less. When they upped their walking to 22 hours per week their…
Read MoreSalt Reduction Makes an Impact in the U.K.
Between 2003 and 2011 stroke deaths in the U.K. decreased 42% (P<0.001) and ischemic heart disease fell by 40% (P<0.001). During the same time salt intake decreased by 1.4 g/day (P<0.01) measured by 24-hour urinary sodium. The findings of this 8-year study appear to support a key role for lower salt intake. Despite this progress,…
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