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People with blocked arteries may get stroke during exercise

People with blocked arteries may get stroke during exercise

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Exercise may cause a stroke in patients with severely blocked arteries, according to research. The study, according to experts, is intriguing but they point out that it is based on a computer model.

They also point out that the majority of people who don’t have clogged arteries still benefit from exercise.

It turns out there is a purpose for the recommendations to visit a doctor before beginning new workout programs that are typically included with them.

In people with blocked or restricted carotid arteries, exercise may increase the risk of stroke. This is according to a recent study published in Physics of Fluids.

Even so, carotid stenosis, which is another name for this ailment, only affects about 3% of the general population.

According to the study, those who have moderate to severe artery blockage should exercise with caution. But the majority of people gain from regular exercise, which is advised for heart health.

The researchers also concluded that exercise is still helpful for preserving healthy blood flow in those who are in good health. Also, in those whose arteries are only mildly clogged.

Exercise increases heart rate and can increase stroke risk.

Researchers examined the relationship between exercise-induced heart rates and resting heart rates for the study.

They stimulated blood flow in carotid arteries in the following stages of stenosis using a computational model:

  • without obstruction
  • a little 30% obstruction
  • having a medium 50% obstruction

According to the research, exercise increased stress in the arteries’ obstructed region in persons with mild blockages. This increased the risk of stenosis rupture.

A stroke that is ischemic could result from this blockage once it enters the brain. But exercise helped the stimulated carotid in people with no stenosis or modest blockage.

Dr. Somnath Roy, Ph.D., an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, is the study’s lead author. “Intense exercise shows adverse effects on patients with moderate or higher stenosis levels,” he stated in a statement.

It significantly raises the shear stress at the stenosis zone, raising the risk of the stenosis rupturing. The blood from the ruptured plaque may then reach the brain’s blood supply and result in an ischemic stroke.

The study team also suggested that a high heart rate would make it more likely for another stenosis to emerge.

How dangerous are blocked carotid arteries?

The brain and the tissues of the face are nourished by carotid arteries that are situated on either side of the neck.

A plaque that forms inside the inner carotid walls as a result of the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, and other particles can constrict the artery.

This narrowing, known as stenosis, is risky because it restricts blood flow and oxygen to the brain and may result in a stroke. Detecting it at an early stage of development might also be challenging.

In a healthy individual, the increased heart rate that comes with exercise stabilizes the drag force acting on the artery wall. This lowers the likelihood of stenosis.

The authors of the study noted that for those already dealing with stenosis, the outcome might be different.

Exercise truly increases the risk of stroke?

According to Dr. Adi Iyer, a neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in California, medical professionals have long recognized that having a greater resting heart rate increases a person’s chance of having a stroke.

Iyer argued that the study’s suggested link between exercise-induced elevated heart rate and stroke in individuals with moderate or severe carotid stenosis is novel “and still remains unclear.”

This study used computer modeling, which is not a perfect representation of actual human physiology. For instance, the circle of Willis, a system of collateral circulation in the human brain, joins the arteries that run from the left to right and front to back of the brain.

The stroke risk for actual patients will eventually be determined by the patency of these collaterals and a host of other variables, according to neurosurgeon Dr. Adi Iyer.

Iyer stated that “temporary weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, or even temporary vision loss from one eye. This can be the most common signs of a narrowed carotid artery.”

“Patients should seek physicians’ recommendations on lifestyle modifications, including exercise regimens when there is a moderate or severe blockage in the carotid artery,” Iyer advised.

Patients should seek surgical consultations because there are now several extremely effective. Minimally invasive procedures are available to them for unblocking their obstructed carotid arteries.

Exercise with clogged arteries should be avoided.

Exercise is frequently advised to avoid cardiovascular disease, according to study author Dr. Somnath Roy, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in India.

According to existing research, exercise-induced faster pulse rate reduces pressure on the arterial wall and delays the development of stenotic occlusion. Through our numerical projections, “we have seen similar characteristics for healthy arteries.”

The oscillatory shear index (WSS) showed increased oscillation levels for artery models with advanced stenosis or constriction, according to Roy.

The likelihood of additional stenosis advancement and extremely high shear stress may increase with higher levels of these oscillations.

If levels are very high, stenotic plaque may begin to fracture and form blood clots or emboli (a foreign body blocking an artery). This may travel to the brain, obstruct weaker blood arteries, and trigger a stroke.

“By using computer simulations based on physiologically relevant data, the authors have described the impact of higher heart rates on hemodynamics in healthy and stenosed carotid arteries. According to Dr. Joseph C. Maroon, clinical professor, vice chairman, and Heindl scholar in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Neurosurgery, “It is not clinical research.

“I find the observations interesting. They are arguing that stenotic lesions that are 50% or more likely to be obstructive of blood flow may be more likely to cause a heart attack or stroke.

According to Roy, the research team intends to examine the consequences of high heart rates at additional arterial models. This includes coronary artery, aorta, and others, in subsequent studies.

How stenosis is impacted by exercise?

As seen in the study, patients with moderate or more severe stenosis may experience negative effects from vigorous activity.

“Although flow volume is not reduced until an artery has 90% or greater stenosis. The suggestion is that the shear and flow disturbances caused by a 50% narrowing of an artery can disrupt the lining of the artery (the intima). Also, precipitate clotting and obstruction despite a normal flow,” Maroon said.

This is a crucial finding that requires confirmation and more research. It’s crucial to take into account any potential variations between a computer model and a human heart rate while learning more about the connection between exercise and stenosis.

“Substantial variability in human heart rate (as compared to a computer model) can occur during different-impact workouts, sports, and isometric exercises,” said Dr. Sandra Narayanan, a board-certified vascular neurologist, and neuro-interventional surgeon at the Pacific Stroke & Neurovascular Centre at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.

The length of sustained heart rate elevation and its detrimental effects on cerebrovascular risk in individuals with moderate-to-severe carotid artery stenosis are related. Although further research is required to fully understand this relationship.

Additionally, Narayanan said it would be useful to determine whether a particular activity is more likely to increase lifestyle risk. Also, if the risk is more closely linked to tachycardia and is independent of cause.

Conclusion

In patients with severely clogged carotid arteries, an elevated heart rate can result in a stroke, claims a recent study.

However, carotid stenosis is not very common in the general populace. Exercise keeps the blood flowing normally in patients with no or little obstruction.

For the majority of people, regular exercise continues to provide some of the best protection against heart disease. The relationship between exercise-induced heart rate and stenosis has to be further studied.

For individuals with moderate or more severe stenosis levels, experts advise walking, yoga, and balance exercises.

REFERENCES:

For Stroke medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_99

Reduce the Dementia risk by strict blood pressure control.

Reduce the Dementia risk by strict blood pressure control.

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The effects of intensive versus routine hypertension treatment on brain lesions were examined by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Centre in San Antonio.

The researchers discovered that intensive therapy that maintains blood pressure within normal bounds is associated with a slowed progression of lesions using data from a previous study.

The study results could influence treatment strategies for hypertensive patients to lower the likelihood of lesions that can result in diminished cognitive performance with further research and trials.

Millions of people have hypertension, which can lead to strokes and brain lesions and compromise brain health.

An aggressive blood pressure regimen can slow the growth of white matter lesions in the brain, according to a recent study headed by UT Health San Antonio.

In contrast to patients with systolic blood pressure readings of 140 mm Hg, the researchers compared the MRI scans of individuals who maintained blood pressure levels below 120 mm Hg.

What is considered hypertension?

Millions of Americans suffer from the medical disease known as hypertension, sometimes known as high blood pressure. Nearly half of American adults have hypertension, which the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention claim contributed to more than 670,000 deaths in 2020.

Blood vessel damage and other health issues can result from high blood pressure. Heart attacks and strokes are two conditions brought on by hypertension.

The following blood pressure ranges are described by the American Heart Association:

For individuals, a normal blood pressure reading is defined as an upper number (systolic) less than 120 over a lower number (diastolic) of 80 mm Hg.

  • Blood pressure that is elevated is 120 to 129 over 80 or less.
  • Hypertension in stage 1 is defined as 130-139 above 80-89.
  • 140 over 90 or higher indicates stage 2 hypertension.

When the systolic and/or diastolic values exceed 180 and 120 respectively, a hypertension crisis ensues.

As the cardiologist, Dr. Kershaw Patel points out in the Houston Methodist podcast On Health, “When we talk about high blood pressure, we must realise it affects not just the heart, but also the brain, the kidneys, and other organs in the body.”

Although doctors frequently prescribe prescription drugs to treat high blood pressure, patients can also try to lower or normalise their blood pressure by making changes to their lifestyle.

Dr. Patel stated that lifestyle changes and then drugs are commonly used to manage high blood pressure. And it really comes down to two-thirds lifestyle and one-third medicine. By adjusting a few aspects of our lifestyle, we can significantly lower our blood pressure.

Blood pressure can be normalised by giving up smoking, consuming less alcohol, exercising, eating a low-sodium diet, and eating more fruits and vegetables.

lowering one’s blood pressure to 120

The American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) standard of care for hypertensive patients is to lower their systolic blood pressure to 140 mm Hg. This goal lowers the risk of cardiovascular death, according to the AAFP.

To assess the effect on white matter lesions (WMLs), the UT Health San Antonio researchers compared the normal treatment target to a more rigorous therapy. The goal of the rigorous treatment program was to lower participants’ systolic blood pressure to under 120 mm Hg.

The researchers examined data from 458 participants using information from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which tracked participants for 4 years. Participants in the study were “aged 50 years or older with hypertension and without diabetes or a history of stroke,” according to the study’s authors.

At the start and conclusion of their trials, the researchers matched each participant’s treatment to their MRI images. They were searching for WMLs, a type of injury to the brain’s white matter that can result in cognitive impairment.

Treatment that is intensive lessens brain damage

According to the study’s findings, the intensive treatment group’s WML volume progression and fractional anisotropy (FA) declines were slower than those of the conventional treatment group.

The FA result is noteworthy since it represents a “measure of connectivity in the brain.” The right splenium, right tapetum, and left anterior corona radiata are a few of the brain areas that saw slower WML growth.

The study also demonstrates that aggressive blood pressure management may be able to maintain some myelin structure, which, according to the scientists, “ultimately slows the progression of injury patterns associated with dementia.”

According to research author Dr. Tanweer Rashid, who works with the Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, “our study shows that specific areas have greater benefit, representing sensitive regions to track in future trials evaluating small-vessel disease.”

How white matter is impacted by blood pressure?

The study’s findings were discussed by Dr. Arun Manmadhan, a cardiovascular disease expert at Columbia University Irving Medical Centre in New York City.

“White matter lesions are abnormally damaged regions of tissue in the white matter of the brain. According to Dr. Manmadhan, they are frequently brought on by anomalies in the tiny blood arteries that provide oxygen and nutrients to the brain.”

Dr. Manmadhan provided more information on the study’s findings, namely how blood pressure may affect WMLs.

“The current report, which is a SPRINT-MIND substudy, examined the impact of stringent blood pressure management on changes in the brain’s white matter as determined by MRI.”

According to Dr. Manmadhan, the results here point to a potential benefit of tight blood pressure control in slowing the development and progression of white matter lesions, which are linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Overall, according to Dr. Manmadhan, the study is an asset to the field of hypertension.

This study “adds to the already substantial body of literature that managing blood pressure is very important for not only preventing cardiovascular events but also in maintaining memory and cognition,” the author added.

REFERENCES:

For Dementia disease medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_478

Researchers identify potential new stroke treatment targets

Researchers identify potential new stroke treatment targets

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When blood flow to a portion of the brain is stopped or reduced by a hemorrhage or obstruction, a stroke results. Although some stroke survivors recover completely, many still struggle with long-term repercussions and are at increased risk of having another stroke.

Brain damage following a stroke is thought to be a result of changes in small blood arteries that exist in addition to the blockage.

In the injured small blood arteries in the brain, a recent study identified multiple changes in gene activity that may serve as targets for pharmacological therapy to enhance stroke recovery.

An artery in the brain becomes clogged or bursts, resulting in a stroke. Beyond the blockage or bleeding, the brain cells are starved of oxygen and nutrients and suffer damage or degeneration. Researchers have been looking for strategies to lessen damage after a stroke and hasten recovery.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine have now discovered alterations in gene activity in small blood arteries after a stroke. The results imply that these alterations could be targeted with current or upcoming medications to lessen brain damage or enhance stroke recovery.

The research was released in PNAS. Weill Cornell Medicine assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and the lead author, Dr. Teresa Sanchez, told:

“By providing a knowledge platform of the molecular alterations in the cerebral microvasculature, our study has improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke. This is critical to developing novel therapeutic strategies for this devastating condition.”

Stroke symptoms

The majority of strokes are ischemic strokes, in which a blood clot obstructs a blood vessel leading to the brain. This prevents nutrition and oxygen from reaching brain cells.

Immediate signs could be:

  • bewilderment and difficulty speaking
  • Headache, maybe accompanied by dizziness or nausea
  • numbness or a lack of movement in certain body areas, especially on one side
  • vision issues
  • Walking difficulties, a loss of coordination, and vertigo.

It’s crucial to get therapy and a diagnosis right away to reduce long-term damage. Many stroke victims, however, continue to experience physical and psychological after effects.

Over 795,000 people experience a stroke each year in the United States. Also, the condition is one of the main causes of long-term disability. This is according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Long-term damage from a stroke

Despite the fact that only 10% of stroke survivors experience a near-complete recovery, survivors frequently experience a variety of symptoms, such as:

  • weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
  • thinking, memory, and speaking issues.
  • difficulty swallowing and chewing.
  • issues controlling one’s bowels and bladder.
  • Depression.

Inflammation and long-term alterations in the brain’s small blood arteries, result in constrained blood flow to brain cells and leaking over the blood-brain barrier. They are the root of many of these symptoms.

In a recent study, gene activity in mouse cerebral microvasculature after a stroke was observed to vary. Similar modifications were found in stroke patients from people as well.

Gene activity changes following a stroke

The researchers discovered 541 genes whose activity was altered similarly in mice and people after stroke, and they also discovered many clusters of genes with various roles.

According to Dr. Teresa Sanchez, “Our work has also clarified the shared transcript alterations between human and mouse stroke and identified common changes in pathways associated with vascular/endothelial dysfunction, sphingolipid metabolism, and signalling.“

They discovered genes linked to vascular disease, general inflammation, brain inflammation, and the specific form of vascular malfunction. This results in leaky cerebral microvessels. The blood-brain barrier, which controls the flow of chemicals between the blood and brain cells, is weakened as a result of these leaky arteries.

The activity of molecules that regulate the blood-brain barrier was shown to vary after stroke, according to the researchers.

Dr. Sanchez stated that a stroke causes “robust changes in the genes regulating the blood-brain barrier and endothelial activation, i.e. upregulation of genes causing blood-brain barrier leakage and downregulation of genes protecting the blood-brain barrier.“

Additionally, they found that after a stroke, there was a disruption in the activity of genes that regulate sphingolipid levels, which are fat molecules involved in a broad variety of biological activities, including inflammation.

Potential therapeutic routes

Some of these molecular alterations, according to the researchers, might make for fresh medication therapy targets. They draw attention to the elevated sphingolipid concentrations in the cerebral microvasculature and hypothesize that sphingolipid targeting may be therapeutic after stroke.

We questioned Dr. Sanchez on the possibility of using medicines to either prevent these changes or undo the harm already done.

“Since endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor to stroke and, concurrently, stroke-induced cerebral ischemia causes additional injury to the endothelium, which further compromises cerebral blood flow and exacerbates brain injury,” she said.

According to Dr. Allder, the discoveries could influence research into other neurological conditions:

“I can see how it might make post-stroke treatments more accessible, but I also see how it might open up new treatment options for dementia and post-brain injuries, particularly repetitive brain injuries.”

More research is required

Therefore, the results may possibly suggest novel therapeutic avenues, but Dr. Iyer emphasised the need for more study:

The key drawback of this research is that human genome and transcriptome models aren’t usually transferable from mouse models. However, this study reveals a hitherto unrecognised cellular signalling route that is unquestionably ready for further study.

Preclinical research is currently being conducted by Dr. Sanchez and her team to see whether it would be advantageous for stroke patients to reverse some of the specific microvascular abnormalities that were observed in their study. They are doing this by employing candidate medications or genetic techniques.

REFERENCES:

For Stroke medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?cPath=77_99

Is Strength training effective for managing blood pressure.

Is Strength training effective for managing blood pressure.

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Hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, is a common ailment that, if left untreated, can cause major issues. Medication and lifestyle changes can both be used to address high blood pressure.

A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of the available data revealed that strength training may be a useful non-drug alternative for the management of high blood pressure. Its effectiveness, however, is influenced by variables including intensity and duration.

People who have hypertension or high blood pressure are susceptible to some long-term problems. Blood pressure can be lowered and a person’s risk of problems can be decreased with early management.

The greatest strategies for modifying one’s lifestyle to lower blood pressure are constantly being researched. How strength training affects blood pressure is one topic of interest. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated the blood pressure-lowering benefits of strength training.

Researchers found that strength training appears to be most useful when it entails working out at least twice per week for at least two months at a moderate to strenuous level.

High blood pressure and treatments

The force the heart uses to pump blood throughout the body is measured by blood pressure. The force blood applies to blood vessel walls as the heart contracts is known as systolic blood pressure. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure in the diastole is the force.

It’s critical that blood pressure maintain a healthy range. Stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure are just a few of the severe problems that high blood pressure can cause. Dr. John Higgins, a sports cardiologist from UTHealth Houston and a non-study author, observed:

“Hypertension is a significant risk factor for developing heart disease that, if not managed properly, can result in early coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Increased morbidity and death are linked to all these disorders.

Aside from taking medicine, managing high blood pressure entails making changes to one’s lifestyle. Losing weight, giving up smoking, and exercising are a few examples of lifestyle changes. Individualized treatment programs for people with high blood pressure can be created in collaboration with their doctors.

Dr. Rohini Manaktala, a cardiologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group and an independent study author, stated that “following a healthy way of living with daily physical activity, maintaining a normal weight, consuming alcohol in moderation, and refraining from tobacco use are all ways to control an individual’s blood pressure.”

Using strength training to manage hypertension

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers investigated the effects of strength training on high blood pressure levels by reviewing several papers. Through several databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the World Health Organisation, they discovered studies. Fourteen randomized controlled studies that satisfied inclusion requirements were included in their study.

253 hypertensive people in all were included in the study and analysis. Participants were just about sixty years old on average.

Giovana Rampazzo Teixeira, Ph.D., the senior author of the study and a professor at UNESP – So Paulo State University’s School of Technology and Sciences, said: “We used randomised clinical studies that used strength training as a treatment for arterial hypertension in hypertensive individuals.”

The following criteria were determined to be the most conducive to strength training’s ability to lower blood pressure in participants:

At least twice a week, individuals engaged in strength exercises that ranged from moderate to strenuous intensity. The intervention lasted at least eight weeks. As outlined by Dr. Teixeir:

“We found that people under 59 years old experienced a more notable drop in blood pressure during the physical training phase. People between the ages of 60 and 79 reported a less noticeable but still discernible difference. Thus, we emphasize that strength training provides advantages for both young and old.

Dr Teixeria continued, “Professionals who are faced with a hypertensive subject in clinical practise or even in the day-to-day at the gym will be able to use strength training as a treatment for arterial hypertension, knowing what the necessary variables for this are to be achieved, and always taking into consideration the goals of that subject.”

How to lower blood pressure

Studies like this one, according to Dr. Fahmi Farah (MD), of Bentley Health, can give cardiologists like her another tool when communicating with the patients they care for.

We have always known that exercise lowers the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, but this study gives us additional proof and confidence to tell our patients about the benefits of exercise and encourage them to try it for themselves.

Farah and her peers in the sector are aware that strength training can provide health hazards or be prohibitively expensive or difficult to get owing to geography. is not accessible to all.

“I would say that on a population, a country, and a government level, I think the help needs to come from higher up so that we can make it more practical for everyone to be able to afford working out.”

Even for individuals who can exercise, Makowski advises against becoming overly ambitious or pushing oneself beyond their limits.

Strength training may be done at many degrees, and it’s not always what we imagine when we think of someone bench pressing a lot of weight elastic bands, light dumbbell weights, and bodyweight movements known as isometrics are some examples.

But before beginning weight training as an intervention for high blood pressure, every expert for this article advised the same thing: make sure you’ve spoken with your doctor.

Data limitations and clinical implications

This analysis and assessment does have some restrictions. First, research involving the use of blood pressure-lowering drugs were not disregarded. This fact might have affected how their analysis turned out.

Second, while multiple control groups were employed in the studies that were included, the researchers only paid attention to the blood pressure readings of participants who had high blood pressure. The ability of researchers to compare how strength training would benefit men and women differently was also constrained. Researchers also point out that there may be publication bias in the available studies.

Dr. Manaktala made the following assumptions regarding how strength training might be used to reduce high blood pressure based on the study’s findings:

Strength training is simple to incorporate into a person’s regular routine. The most crucial factor is constancy. A decent first exercise method to lower blood pressure would be a moderate to strenuous workout, 2 to 3 times per week.

It’s also crucial to remember that each person’s use of strength training may seem different. To perform a strength training programme safely, people might ask doctors and other experts for assistance.

Dr. Higgins stated that it is wise to consult with medical professionals before beginning a strength training programme to ensure that it is safe to do so and to get their advice on the appropriate level of intensity.

REFERENCES:

For Blood pressure medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available here https://mygenericpharmacy.com/index.php?therapy=53

Depression may increase stroke risk, and stroke recovery.

Depression may increase stroke risk, and stroke recovery.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that depression is the main cause of disability in the globe. At least 5% of adults are affected, with more women than males reporting symptoms of depression.

Symptomatic depressed individuals are more likely to have a stroke, and their recovery from one is frequently more challenging, according to a multi-national study.

According to this study, persons with depressive symptoms had a 46% higher risk of having a stroke than those without such symptoms.

Over 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression. 10.4% of women in the United States experience depression, which is almost twice as frequent in women as it is in males, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Psychological signs of depression include a continuously downbeat attitude, a sense of worthlessness, a loss of interest in enjoyable pursuits, trouble concentrating, and even suicidal thoughts.

In addition, physical symptoms including exhaustion, an inability to eat, headaches, chronic pain, and digestive problems may be brought on by sadness.

Moreover, depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been connected in research; one studyTrusted Source found that individuals with coronary heart disease who were depressed had an increased risk of dying.

An international study that was just published in Neurology discovered that those who experience depressed symptoms had a higher chance of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as a worse recovery after a stroke.

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds or when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Blood and oxygen cannot reach the brain’s tissues because of the rupture or obstruction.

Stroke is a primary cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year. Brain tissue and cells are damaged and start to die within minutes of being oxygen-deprived.

Strokes often come in three different forms:

  • Temporary ischemia. A blood clot causes a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which normally resolves on its own.
  • Ischemic stroke. It involves an obstruction in the artery brought on by a clot or plaque. The signs and problems of an ischemic stroke may persist permanently or linger longer than those of a TIA.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke. A blood vessel that seeps into the brain either bursts or leaks, which is the source of the condition.

Strokes are often fatal. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there were 37.6 age-adjusted deaths for every 100,000 stroke diagnosis in 2017. This fatality rate is 13.6% lower than it was in 2007 thanks to medical advances in the treatment of strokes.

What is a Depression?

Depression is basically a common but serious mental disorder, medically termed as Major Depressive Disorder which negatively affects a person’s way of thinking, how the person feels and behaves. This mental disorder is different from mood fluctuations. In addition to causing emotional and physical problems, it can also make it difficult for you to function at work and at home.

Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive any treatment. There are several barriers to effective mental health care, including a lack of resources, a lack of trained health-care providers, and social stigma associated with mental illness. People with depression in countries of all income levels are frequently misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants even when they do not have the disorder.

Details from the stroke and depression study

In total, 26,877 adult study participants from 32 nations in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, and Africa participated in the study.

As a neuroscientist and associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dustin Hines, PhD, stated to Healthline, “This work represents a tremendous achievement in the knowledge of both stroke and depression. “When considered in light of how variable the group of patients suffering from depression is, the statistically significant difference between responders who reported depression before the stroke is even more impressive.”

According to research, 13% of the 13,000 participants who experienced a stroke also had depressive symptoms. Depression was prevalent among those who had no stroke, at 14%.

Increased stroke risk

When compared to people who did not have a stroke (14%), those who had one were more likely to develop depressive symptoms (18%). Those who admitted to having “given up on improving their lives” were at higher risk of suffering a stroke.

Those who had symptoms of depression had a 46% higher risk of stroke than those who did not experience such symptoms, even after the researchers made adjustments for age, sex, education, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors.

The correlation between depressive symptoms and stroke was discovered to be constant across all country economic levels. Stroke risk was increased in people with four or more symptoms of depression than in those with fewer symptoms.

In response to this research, Dr. Benesch stated that “this link between more severe depression and stroke risk is undoubtedly worthy of further examination and may be clinically meaningful.”

“One analogy would be that we are aware that lung cancer is brought on by smoking. We also know that daily smokers have a higher risk of developing lung cancer than smokers who only smoke sometimes (once every six months). Hence, he continued, “it would seem that there is a dose-response relationship.

The study also discovered that although strokes in those with depressive symptoms were not more severe, their outcomes one month after the stroke were worse.

Depression and CVD or stroke

Depression and heart disease and stroke have already been associated in a number of studies.

A 2011 meta-analysis of 17 research revealed that depressive disorders considerably increased the probability of having a stroke, and that the increase was likely independent of other risk factors like diabetes or hypertension. This study was unable to establish a causal relationship, nevertheless.

The same year, a bigger meta-analysis that examined 28 prospective cohort studies came to the conclusion that depression is prospectively linked to a considerably higher chance of having a stroke.

In 2020, a different study discovered that persons who had depressive symptoms had a higher risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke later on.

Despite the association’s modest size, it was nonetheless noticeable among those who did not exhibit depressive disorder-like symptoms.

How depression affects people who’ve had a stroke?

“Depression is not unusual for people following a stroke, I’ve discovered in my experience with stroke patients,” Waichler continued. “Both the stroke sufferer and their loved ones may suffer greatly from the loss of independence, physical limitations, restrictions on one’s capacity for self-care, and probable cognitive and communication problems. A person’s willingness or the requisite amount of resolve to fully engage in the recovery process may be adversely affected by depression. The outcome could be worse as a result and the stroke recovery could be hindered.

The biggest unsolved question in the study, according to Karen Sullivan, PhD, a neuropsychologist and the creator of the I Care For Your Brain website, is “What is it about depression particularly that enhances the risk of stroke?”

“The range of depressive symptoms includes the cognitive, emotional, and physical. Knowing which particular factors were most closely associated to stroke risk would be really beneficial, Sullivan told Healthline. “Even though the study filtered out typical characteristics linked with depression that could confound the results like low physical activity, there are lots of additional lifestyle risks that go along with depression that could have affected the results including bad diet, low socialising, not enough cognitive stimulation, inflammation, [and] noncompliance with medical guidance,” the study’s authors write.

According to Sullivan, the most significant lesson that patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public should learn from this study is the value of depression screening.

In addition to enhancing a person’s general health and quality of life, she added that recent research suggests that treating depression also lowers the chance of stroke. Large-scale, long-term studies are required, and it is important to understand whether effective therapy lowers the risk of stroke in order to demonstrate a more causal link between depression and stroke.

The apparent next step, according to Hines, is to search for widespread biomarkers that may be connected to metabolic issues and attempt to assist patients before they experience a stroke.

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keto-like diet may be linked to heart attack and stroke.

keto-like diet may be linked to heart attack and stroke.

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Researchers looked into whether high-fat, low-carb diets similar to the ketogenic diet raise cardiovascular risk.

Diets that resembled ketosis were associated with twice as many cardiovascular events as regular diets.

The findings need to be confirmed by other research.

Reports

Around 10% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, and 60% from fat according to the ketogenic or “keto” diet. The diet causes a condition known as “ketosis,” in which the body starts using fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.

According to some research, a ketogenic diet may aid in weight loss, increase the susceptibility of cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Also, it lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Yet, case studies indicate that the ketogenic diet may aggravate or fuel elevated cholesterol.

Further research on the impact of ketogenic diets on cardiovascular health may help people choose the right diet for their health profile.

Recent research examined the potential effects of low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diets. These are similar to keto diets, on cardiovascular risk under the direction of Dr. Iulia Iatan, an attending physician-scientist at the Healthy Heart Program Prevention Clinic, St. Paul’s Hospital, and the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Heart Lung Innovation in Vancouver, Canada.

According to the study, as compared to a conventional diet, an LCHF diet nearly doubled the risk of cardiovascular events. The study was presented at the ACC Annual Scientific Session along with the World Congress of Cardiology. Its a conference co-hosted by the American College of Cardiology and the World Heart Federation.

Study

In order to conduct the study, the researchers examined data gathered by the UK Biobank for individuals. Theyincluded information on food habits, metabolomic indicators, and blood lipid levels.

In a 24-hour food survey, all participants had tracked their dietary habits. 305 of them met the requirements for an LCHF diet. This is known as getting more than 45% of daily calories from fat and less than 25% from carbohydrates.

1,220 people who were deemed to be on a “regular diet” and made up the control group were matched with these participants by the researchers. The average age of the participants was 54 years. They were classified as “overweight” because of their mean body mass index (BMI), which was around 27.

What is a Ketogenic diet?

Ketogenic diets are low-carb diets (such as the Atkins diet). The goal is to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. The carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread, are the ones you cut back the most on.  

By reducing carbohydrate intake drastically, fat is replaced. When you reduce carbs, your body enters a state called ketosis. As a result, your body burns fat extremely efficiently for energy. Additionally, it converts fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy to the brain. Diabetes and insulin levels can be reduced significantly by ketogenic diets. In addition, the increase in ketones has some health benefits.

Low-carb, high-fat diets and cardio risk

“LDL cholesterol and ApoB will increase when people switch their caloric intake from carbohydrates to fat, especially if the saturated fat comes primarily from animal products. Dr. Liam R. Brunham, associate professor of medicine at The University of British Columbia and one of the study’s authors, told Medical News Today that this has been known for decades.

“What our study revealed is that the effect is not consistent, but that there is a segment of individuals who would experience severe hypercholesterolemia [abnormally high cholesterol levels] when on an LCHF diet. This is the category in which the largest rise in cardiovascular risk was found, the expert added.

Although she was not engaged in the study, Dr. Dana Hunnes, an assistant professor at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, told MNT that “[t]his type of diet is supposed to be utilised short-term, primarily in those who have seizure disorders or neurological diseases as ketones can pass across the blood-brain barrier.”

“A keto diet is strong in saturated fats (usually), animal products, and may boost cholesterol levels as well as cause inflammation and stress,” she said.

“A low-carb, high-fat diet […] similarly tends to be low in carbohydrates and fibre and high in animal products and saturated fats. These characteristics might affect the microbiome, raise cholesterol levels and inflammation in the body, and raise the risk of heart disease, she added.

Keto worries

Michelle Routhenstein, a nutritionist who specialises in heart health and runs the online private practise Completely Nourished, was also interviewed by MNT. She informed us that the study supports her own findings.

“This study confirms what I see in my private practise, [as] many people come to me after being on the ketogenic diet for several months with very high LDL and apolipoprotein A levels, two crucial [factors] that contribute create risk for atherosclerosis,” she said.

Routhenstein issued a warning: “The keto diet can be quite high in saturated fat and low in soluble fibre, which negatively influences both of these parameters.

keto diet and risks to our heart health

According to Yu-Ming Ni, M.D., a cardiologist with MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center’s Non-Invasive Cardiology, ketogenic diets, or “keto,” are diets that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates—so low in carbohydrates, in fact, that it causes your body’s metabolism to break down fat and turn it into energy. The ability of keto diets to burn fat has been researched as a weight loss strategy, he continues. Several studies have revealed that high-fat, low-carb diets often result in worse cardiovascular outcomes than plant-based, high-carb, low-fat diets. This has raised a lot of controversy. This study expands on those findings.

So, precisely how can a ketogenic diet impact your heart health? It turns out that there is higher inflammation with keto diets in general. High fat diets are often more inflammatory, and Dr. Ni adds that inflammation is a crucial element in controlling cardiovascular health and disease. “We clearly have evidence of the pro-inflammatory characteristics of red meat or processed meat diets.”

In general, ketogenic diets raise your cholesterol as well. This is primarily because the foods you are consuming already have high cholesterol levels, but Dr. Ni also points out that long-term adherence to a high-fat, low-carb diet can have an impact on your cholesterol levels. He says that “high cholesterol is the number one factor that causes attacks and strokes to develop.”

Study limitations 

Dr. Brunham pointed out that the study reveals association but not causation when questioned about the study’s flaws.

Those following the LCHF diet and those following the normal diet had different BMIs, obesity rates, and diabetes statuses, he continued, potentially skewing the results.

In other words, it’s possible that individuals in the UK Biobank who reported eating an LCHF diet had a higher chance of developing heart disease due to their genetic makeup rather than the diet itself. To truly comprehend this, we would need more sorts of research, such randomised trials, he said.

Additional limitations of the study include the fact that diet and cholesterol levels were only recorded at one time point, according to Dr. John P. Higgins, a sports cardiologist at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston who was not involved in the research.

Additionally, he questioned if people who follow standard diets are indeed following a “standard” diet or whether they are generally a healthier population.

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Latest way for an individual to prevent stroke.

Latest way for an individual to prevent stroke.

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Certain stroke risk factors are uncontrollable. But, there are other risk factors that you may change, including as your blood pressure, cholesterol, and many aspects of your lifestyle.

When a blood vessel that supplies the brain with blood and oxygen becomes clogged or disrupted, a stroke occurs. Brain cells can start to deteriorate if they don’t receive enough blood and oxygen.

In the US, stroke is the main factor in adult long-term disability. It’s also the fifth greatest cause of death. You can, however, take precautions to lessen your risk of having a stroke.

There are two main categories for strokes:

  • Ischemic stroke: When a blood clot forms or enters a blood vessel, an ischemic stroke happens. It prevents the brain from receiving oxygen and blood. This group includes around 80% of strokes.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke: When a blood vessel inside or close to the brain bursts, it causes a hemorrhagic stroke.

Another term you may be familiar with is a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It’s sometimes referred to as a “mini stroke,” and it occurs when blood flow to a portion of the brain is momentarily interrupted. The majority of TIA symptoms go away within 24 hours, however seeking medical assistance is still crucial.

Steps to lower your risk of a stroke

There are two types of risk factors for stroke: those you can manage and those you can’t.

Among the unavoidable risk factors are:

  • genetic influences (such as a family history of certain diseases or conditions that increase the risk for stroke)
  • gender (stroke is more common in men until age 80; women have a higher lifetime risk) 
  • age (the older you are, the bigger the danger) (the older you are, the greater the risk)
  • ethnicity (Black Americans are more prone to get a stroke)

Yet, many of the risk factors for stroke can be managed, or at least positively impacted, to lower your risks. Changing key aspects of your lifestyle and receiving appropriate medical care can both reduce your risk.

Control your blood pressure

A significant risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, high blood pressure is a significant contributing factor in 90% of all strokes. Your risk of stroke increases with increasing blood pressure.

The recommended blood pressure is 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). Even a little bit higher blood pressure readings are associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Age doesn’t make blood pressure control any simpler. In fact, 2/3 of persons are classified hypertensive by the age of 65.

Losing weight, engaging in regular exercise, and cutting back on salt consumption all contribute to good blood pressure regulation. In order to lower their blood pressure and lessen the strain on their blood vessels, some patients may also need to take prescription drugs.

According to estimates, maintaining healthy blood pressure can prevent roughly 40% of all strokes.

Manage blood sugar

Stroke risk is significantly increased by diabetes. In fact, stroke causes 20% or more of deaths in adults with diabetes, and prediabetes also increases the risk of stroke.

Diabetes is closely related to other health issues like high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol that raise the risk of stroke.

Stroke risk can be decreased by managing diabetes with lifestyle adjustments like exercise and a low-sugar diet. Some people might additionally require medication to help them maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Enhance blood cholesterol levels

Lowering LDL levels is only one aspect of good blood cholesterol management. The importance of raising HDL levels cannot be overstated.

In actuality, the two affect stroke types differently. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of an ischemic stroke, but low levels of HDL cholesterol increase the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.

Olive oil, avocados, salmon, and nuts are examples of foods high in healthy fats and proteins that may help balance these levels. Statins might be necessary for some persons to lower cholesterol and minimise their risk of developing artery plaque. Plaque can either grow into a complete obstruction or fragment and create a clot.

End your smoking habit

Smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely than non-smokers to suffer from an ischemic stroke, especially among African Americans. In fact, smoking plays a role in around 15% of all stroke deaths that occur each year in the United States.

The good news is that the advantages of quitting smoking begin immediately and last over time. Your chance of developing a stroke as a result of smoking will almost be eliminated within two to four years of stopping.

But giving up might be challenging. Behavioral therapy, counselling, and even some drugs or drug-replacement therapies are offered as forms of support.

Be mindful of your weight.

Obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for stroke. They are also directly related to other health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which raise your risk of developing a stroke.

A person who is overweight has a 22% higher risk of stroke than someone who is of a healthy weight. Obesity increases risk by 64% for those individualsReliable Source.

Regular exercise and calorie restriction are two healthy weight-management strategies. But some folks won’t find those modifications sufficient. You might be given weight-loss drugs or treatments by your doctor.

Regular exercise

As was already indicated, exercise can help reduce some of the major stroke risk factors. Blood sugar and blood pressure are both reduced by it. Moreover, it can aid in weight loss or healthy weight maintenance.

Yet regardless of the additional advantages, regular exercise is a good habit that can lower your risk of stroke. In actuality, those who routinely exercise have a lower risk of stroke and those who do suffer a stroke have a lower mortality rate than those who don’t exercise.

Even if you are not trying to reduce weight, try to exercise most days of the week at a moderate level. This exercise doesn’t have to consist of nonstop treadmill walking. Think about other options like swimming, gardening, and dance.

Consider sleep seriously.

Poor sleep is clearly linked to a higher risk of stroke, according to a growing body of research.

It is well recognised that sleep deprivation contributes to problems like exhaustion, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. Yet, a lack of sleep may also make you more susceptible to having a stroke.

Insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders have all been associated to stroke. However, having a stroke might make sleep problems worse, raising your risk of having another stroke.

But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. In reality, studies confirm that getting more than 9 hours of sleep per night significantly increases the risk of stroke.

Emphasis on diet

A healthy diet can have a favourable effect on a variety of problems that increase your risk of stroke in addition to helping you lose weight. For illustration:

Your blood pressure may be lowered by consuming less sodium. Increasing your intake of heart-healthy fats, such as those found in fish and oils, may lower your cholesterol.

It may be simpler to manage your blood sugar levels if you limit your sugar intake.

Moreover, you are not required to concentrate on calorie counting. Focus on consuming more wholesome foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and chicken. Limit your consumption of– processed meals, red meat, and simple carbohydrates.

Working closely with your doctor will help you understand how to lower your risk factors as much as possible if you have a higher than average risk of having a stroke.

Thankfully, many of the methods for preventing stroke can also improve other aspects of your health and potentially lower your risk of contracting other illnesses.

But there isn’t a single, effective strategy for preventing stroke. Ultimately, the best long-term effects on your health can be achieved by combining these tactics to address your specific risk factors.

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.healthline.com/health/stroke/stroke-prevention
  • https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/prevention.htm
  • https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke
  • https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke/guide/prevention/

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Heart related diseases linked to specific kinds of sugars.

Heart related diseases linked to specific kinds of sugars.

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According to a recent study, the type of sugar you consume may have a greater impact on your risk of developing heart disease than the quantity of sugar you consume.

Researchers from the University of Oxford in the UK found that eating foods high in “free sugars” dramatically increased the risk of heart disease and stroke. They discovered that the risk rose in proportion to how much more free sugar a person consumed.

Free sugars are all sugars that have been intentionally added to food by a producer, cook, or consumer. Also, sugars that are naturally found in honey, syrups, and unsweetened fruit juice. Those naturally found in entire fruits and vegetables are not considered to be free sugar.

How much sugar is permitted?

What quantity of additional sugar is appropriate if 24 tablespoons daily is too much? Since sugar is not a necessary nutrient in your diet, it is difficult to say. There is no official sugar RDA set by the Institute of Medicine, which establishes RDAs for other nutrients.

The American Heart Association advises against exceeding the daily added sugar calorie limits for men and women, respectively. A respectively 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grammes) and 150 calories (roughly 9 teaspoons or 36 grammes). That equates to roughly one 12-ounce soda can’s worth of liquid.

Taking sugar alternatives into account

Consuming excessive amounts of sugar can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease. This results in high blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

According to Dr. Elizabeth H. Dineen, an integrative cardiologist with the UCI Health Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, “it looks wise to limit the use of artificial sweeteners” in light of the cardiovascular events observed among research participants.

Dr. Ailin Barseghian El-Farra, an integrative cardiologist with the institute, adds that these findings “can help open a dialogue with patients about their dietary consumption of sugars, as well as artificial sweeteners, and their associated risk for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular events.” Neither doctor took part in the investigation.

Over 100,000 French people were monitored for approximately nine years as part of the NutriNet-Santé project. When they first began, the participants’ average age was 42, and over 80% of them were women. Everyone was prompted to share information on their diet, health, physical activity, level of education, smoking status, and line of work.

They recorded all food and drinks consumed within a 24-hour period every six months. This provides thorough breakdown of their overall consumption of artificial sweeteners. Also, the consumption of other foods and nutrients, such as fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat.

Impact on your heart

In a study that was published in 2014 in JAMA Internal Medicine, Dr. Hu and his coworkers discovered a link between a high-sugar diet and an increased risk of dying from heart disease. Over the course of the 15-year trial, those who consumed between 17% and 21% of their calories as added sugar had a 38% higher chance of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who only consumed 8% of their calories in this way.

According to Dr. Hu, the risk of heart disease is essentially inversely proportional to the amount of added sugar consumed.

Monitoring the intake of sweeteners

According to the study, 37% of individuals drank diet Coke or another type of artificial sweetener on average, which works out to 42 milligrammes per day or around one packet of sweetener. The average daily intake of artificial sweeteners among people who consumed more of them was nearly double at 78 milligrammes, or about 7 ounces of diet soda.

Overall, those who used the most artificial sweeteners were younger, had higher body mass indices (BMI). They were more likely to smoke, were less active, and didn’t follow a diet to control their weight. Curiously, they ate fewer calories, drank less alcohol, and consumed less fibre, fruit, and vegetables, as well as saturated and polyunsaturated fats. However, they consumed more sodium, red and processed meats, and dairy foods.

Researchers also kept tabs on the health of the participants, including physical examinations, medical procedures, and cardiovascular occurrences. This includes heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

Researchers found that those who consumed the most artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, had a 9% higher risk for cardiovascular disease and an 18% greater risk for stroke or other cerebrovascular disease when compared to participants who ate none. This was true even after taking into account differences in age, sex, physical activity, education, smoking, and family history of heart disease.

The same authors’ previous spring PLoS ONE study revealed increased artificial sweetener intake. Additionally risk for cancer was linked to  aspartame and acesulfame-K.

Sugar and Other Health Problems

Studies have shown a connection between sugar consumption and animal models of hypertension. According to a human study, people with diabetes who use diuretics have a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) if they consume a lot of sugar in their diet.

Consuming sugar can improve one’s body’s ability to store and use carbohydrate energy. This improvement, however, only happens at levels of physical activity and exercise intensity that are connected to endurance performances lasting at least 30 minutes. The main sources of energy for muscular contraction are blood glucose, liver glycogen, and muscle glycogen. The consumption of sugar can quickly restore blood glucose levels to normal when these substances reach dangerously low levels, which can lead to weariness. Consuming sugar has no effect on performance for the majority of low- to moderate-intensity tasks, such as walking or household chores.

The link between dietary sugar and cognition and behaviour has garnered a lot of attention. Two theories served as the foundation for the notion that sugar and hyperactivity are related. The first was a potential allergic reaction, and the second was the possibility of functional reactive hypoglycemia in hyperactive children. Both of these concepts remain unproven, and a meta-analysis of 16 randomised studies in hyperactive children revealed that cutting back on sugar in the diet had no positive impact on hyperactivity levels.

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-and-stroke
  • https://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20230214/heart-disease-stroke-linked-specific-kinds-of-sugar-study
  • ucihealth.org/blog/2022/09/sugar-substitutes-may-boost-heart-disease-stroke-risk
  • https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000019552.77778.04

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Get liberty from painful and frustating frozen shoulder.

Get liberty from painful and frustating frozen shoulder.

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The shoulder stiffens and loses mobility as a result of the common condition known as frozen shoulder. Additionally called sticky capsulitis.

Although these two illnesses are unrelated, the term “frozen shoulder” is sometimes used improperly to refer to arthritis. Arthritis can apply to one or more joints, whereas frozen shoulder particularly refers to the shoulder joint.

It often affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60, and women are more prone to develop it than males. About 3% of persons are thought to be affected. One or both shoulders may be impacted.

Three bones that make up your shoulder connect together in a ball and socket fashion. They are your collarbone, shoulder blade, and upper arm (humerus) (clavicle). Additionally, the tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint holds everything in place. The shoulder capsule is what we refer to as.

When a shoulder is frozen, the capsule grows to be extremely thick and rigid. Bands of scar tissue develop, and the synovial fluid needed to keep the joint lubricated is reduced. These things further restrict motion.

Symptoms of frozen shoulder

The major signs of a frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness, which make moving it challenging or impossible.

You’ll probably have a dull or aching pain in one shoulder if you have frozen shoulder. The shoulder muscles that surround the top of your arm may also be painful. Your upper arm can have the similar sensation. It might be difficult to fall asleep at night if your pain gets severe.

Typically, a frozen shoulder will go through three stages. Each has its own own timing and set of symptoms.

Freezing phase:

  • Every time you move your shoulder, a pain (sometimes quite intense) develops there.
  • Over time, it gradually grows worse and could hurt more at night.
  • This may last for six to nine months.
  • Your shoulder’s range of motion is constrained.

Frozen stage:

  • Although your pain may lessen, your stiffness will only get worse.
  • It gets increasingly challenging to move your shoulder and more challenging to carry out normal tasks.
  • 4 to 12 months are possible during this stage.

Thawing phase:

  • You begin to regain your normal range of motion.
  • It could take anywhere from six months to two years to complete.

Causes of Frozen shoulders

Three bones make up the shoulder: the humerus, which is the upper arm bone, the collarbone, and the shoulder blade. A ball and socket joint is present in the shoulder. The upper arm bone’s rounded head slides into this socket.

The shoulder capsule is a band of connective tissue that encircles the joint. The joint can move freely thanks to synovial fluid.

The formation of scar tissue in the shoulder is hypothesised to cause frozen shoulder. As a result, there is less movement possible due to the capsule of the shoulder joint becoming thicker and more rigid. It could become unpleasant and stiff to move.

The actual cause is not always known and cannot always be determined. But the majority of those who have frozen shoulder have been immobile recently due to an accident or fracture. Patients with diabetes frequently experience the condition.

Who is at risk?

  • Adults, typically between the ages of 40 and Adults, typically between the ages of 40 and 60.
  • Gender: More prevalent in women than in men.
  • Recent shoulder injury: Any operation or damage to the shoulder that necessitates immobilisation (by using a shoulder brace, sling, shoulder wrap, etc.). A rotator cuff tear and fractures of the shoulder blade, collarbone, or upper arm are two examples.
  • Diabetes: Frozen shoulder affects between 10 and 20 percent of those with diabetes mellitus.
  • Stroke, hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease are among the other illnesses and ailments. Because a stroke may impede arm and shoulder movement, it is a risk factor for frozen shoulder. The risk of having a frozen shoulder is higher in certain illnesses and circumstances is not clear.

How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?

In order to identify frozen shoulder, your doctor will:

  • Review your medical history and talk about your symptoms.
  • Examine your shoulders and arms physically:
    • Your shoulder will be moved in all directions by the doctor to determine its range of motion and whether it hurts when you move it. Finding your “passive range of motion” involves an examination in which your doctor moves your arm rather than you.
    • In order to determine your “active range of motion,” the doctor will also watch you move your shoulder. The two motions are contrasted. The range of motion for those who have frozen shoulders is constrained, both actively and passively.
  • In order to confirm that another shoulder issue, like arthritis, is not the source of the symptoms, normal shoulder X-rays are also taken. In most cases, frozen shoulder can be diagnosed without the use of sophisticated imaging techniques like ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They might be examined to rule out other issues, like a torn rotator cuff.

Treatments for frozen shoulder

Until the early phase has passed, treatment typically consists of pain management techniques. If the issue continues, rehabilitation and surgery can be required to restore motion if it doesn’t happen naturally.

Several straightforward remedies are:

  • Compresses, both hot and cold. These aid in reducing swelling and pain.
  • Medications that lessen swelling and pain. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), which include acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®). Your doctor might also recommend more painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. Injections of steroids may be used to treat more severe pain and edoema. Direct injection of a corticosteroid, such as cortisone, into the shoulder joint.
  • Physical treatment. Exercises for stretching and range of motion given by a physical therapist.
  • Exercise regime at home. Maintain your home workout routine.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Using a tiny battery-powered device to block nerve impulses and so lessen pain.

After roughly a year of testing, if these straightforward treatments haven’t reduced discomfort and shoulder stiffness, alternative techniques may be explored. These comprise:

  • Anesthesia-induced manipulation: During this procedure, your doctor will make your shoulder move by forcibly sedated you. As a result, the joint capsule will either stretch or rip, releasing the tension. The range of motion will consequently grow.
  • During a shoulder arthroscopy, your doctor will make incisions through your joint capsule’s tight spots (capsular release). Your shoulder is sliced in small places, and tiny pencil-sized instruments are implanted.

For better outcomes, these two techniques are frequently combined.

Can frozen shoulder be prevented?

Physical therapy should be started as soon as possible following any shoulder injury that causes painful or problematic shoulder movement in order to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of developing a frozen shoulder. An exercise regimen can be created by your physical therapist or orthopaedic physician to suit your individual requirements.

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Important causes of Stroke you need to know about.

Important causes of Stroke you need to know about.

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What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds or when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Blood and oxygen cannot reach the brain’s tissues because of the rupture or obstruction.

Stroke is a primary cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year. Brain tissue and cells are damaged and start to die within minutes of being oxygen-deprived.

Strokes often come in three different forms:

  • Temporary ischemia. A blood clot causes a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which normally resolves on its own.
  • Ischemic stroke. It involves an obstruction in the artery brought on by a clot or plaque. The signs and problems of an ischemic stroke may persist permanently or linger longer than those of a TIA.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke. A blood vessel that seeps into the brain either bursts or leaks, which is the source of the condition.

Strokes are often fatal. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there were 37.6 age-adjusted deaths for every 100,000 stroke diagnosis in 2017. This fatality rate is 13.6% lower than it was in 2007 thanks to medical advances in the treatment of strokes.

How does a stroke affect my body?

What a heart attack is to your heart, strokes are to your brain. When you suffer a stroke, a portion of your brain loses blood flow, preventing that part of your brain from receiving oxygen. The afflicted brain cells become oxygen-starved and quit functioning correctly without oxygen.

Your brain cells will perish if you deprive them of oxygen for too long. If enough brain cells in a particular region perish, the damage is irreversible, and you risk losing the abilities that region used to regulate. Restoring blood flow, however, might stop that kind of harm from occurring or at least lessen how bad it is. Time is therefore very important when treating a stroke.

What causes a stroke?

Hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes can occur for a variety of reasons. Blood clots are typically the cause of ischemic strokes. These can occur for a number of causes, including:

  • Atherosclerosis.
  • bleeding issues.
  • Heart fibrillation (especially when it happens due to sleep apnea).
  • Heart problems (atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect).
  • ischemia microvascular disease (which can block smaller blood vessels in your brain).

There are other more causes of hemorrhagic strokes, including:

  • High blood pressure, especially when it is present for an extended period of time, when it is extremely high, or both.
  • Hemorrhagic strokes can occasionally result from brain aneurysms.
    brain cancer (including cancer).
  • diseases like moyamoya disease can weaken or result in unexpected abnormalities in the blood vessels in your brain.

Related conditions

A person’s likelihood of having a stroke can also be influenced by various other ailments and elements. These consist of:

  • a drinking disorder.
  • elevated blood pressure (this can play a role in all types of strokes, not just hemorrhagic ones because it can contribute to blood vessel damage that makes a stroke more likely).
  • High triglycerides (hyperlipidemia).
  • Migraine headaches (they can resemble stroke symptoms, and sufferers of migraines, particularly those who experience auras, also have an increased lifetime chance of developing a stroke).
  • diabetes type 2.
  • smoking and using other tobacco products (including vaping and smokeless tobacco).
  • drug addiction (including prescription and non-prescription drugs).

Stroke symptoms

Damage to brain tissues results from reduced blood supply to the brain. The body components that are regulated by the brain damage-related areas show signs of a stroke.

The better the prognosis for someone experiencing a stroke, the earlier they receive treatment. Because of this, being aware of the symptoms of a stroke will help you take prompt action. Some signs of a stroke include:

  • paralysis
  • Arm, face, or leg numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
  • difficulty communicating or comprehending others
  • muddled speech
  • Lack of clarity, disorientation, or responsiveness
  • abrupt behavioural alterations, particularly increased agitation
  • visual issues, such as double vision or difficulty seeing with one or both eyes that are blurry or blacked out
  • loss of coordination or balance
  • dizziness
  • strong headache that appears out of the blue
  • seizures
  • dizziness or vomiting

Any stroke victim needs to see a doctor right away. Call your local emergency services as soon as you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing a stroke. Early intervention is essential to avoiding the following consequences:

  • brain injury
  • long-term impairment
  • death

Don’t be scared to seek emergency medical assistance if you believe you have seen the symptoms of a stroke because it’s best to be extra careful while dealing with a stroke.

Risk factors for stroke

You are more prone to stroke if you have certain risk factors. Risk factors for stroke include the following, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source:

  • Diet
  • Inactivity
  • heavy drinking
  • Tobacco use

Personal history

You have no control over a number of stroke risk factors, including:

  • Family background. Some families have an increased risk of stroke due to inherited health issues including high blood pressure.
  • Sex. Strokes can affect both men and women, although in all age categories, women are more likely to experience them than men, according to the CDCTrusted Source.
  • Age. The probability of having a stroke increases with age.
  • Ethnicity and race. Compared to other racial groups, African Americans, Alaska Natives, and American Indians are more likely to experience a stroke.

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