Latest news with #AmericanStrokeAssociation
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
7 Things Stroke Doctors Say You Should Never, Ever Do
In the United States, strokes are a top cause of death and a major cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association. This is a scary reality, especially since many of the stroke risk factors are pretty silent (like high cholesterol and high blood pressure) ― until they're not. But just because some of the risk factors aren't always obvious doesn't mean strokes can't be controlled. In fact, it's estimated that 80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes like exercise, diet and more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No one knows that more than the experts who treat the issue. Stroke doctors say they think a lot about the key ways to lower their risk (and their patients' risk) of stroke. 'I like to think of it more proactively — what I could do to prevent stroke,' said Dr. Anthony Kim, a vascular neurologist and medical director of the University of California at San Francisco Stroke Center. Below, stroke doctors share the habits they personally avoid ― and why you should avoid them, too. According to Dr. Arthur Wang, director of endovascular neurosurgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, one of the modifiable risk factors for stroke is having a sedentary lifestyle. While there isn't one across-the-board definition of a sedentary lifestyle, overall, it means spending too much time sitting or lying down and not enough time exercising or moving around. 'It's been shown that regular physical activity helps keep your blood vessels clog-free. It stops the buildup of plaque in the arteries,' Wang said. 'And so we generally recommend that people get probably 30 minutes of moderate exercise maybe five times a week.' This could mean going for walks, runs, biking, gardening or joining a group workout class — there is no wrong way to get moving. 'It turns out that a lot of the same things that we would recommend for a healthy lifestyle also reduce the risk of both heart disease and stroke,' Kim said. 'But if there's one factor that is the most impactful it would be blood pressure, blood pressure, blood pressure.' Elevated blood pressure, particularly over time, can lead to problems, he said: High blood pressure is the biggest modifiable stroke risk factor. 'If you took a magic wand and waved it and suddenly eliminated high blood pressure from the U.S. population, there would be 60% fewer strokes,' Kim said. 'It's by far the leading risk factor for stroke and we call it the silent killer because oftentimes, patients don't feel it; you have to have it checked and monitored and treated.' If you took a magic wand and waved it and suddenly eliminated high blood pressure from the U.S. population, there would be 60% fewer Anthony Kim, University of California, San Francisco, Stroke Center 'These risk factors oftentimes don't have any real symptoms,' Wang said, which is a worrisome thing to think about. 'A patient would never know that their blood pressure's high, they wouldn't know whether they have high cholesterol unless all of this is routinely tested or screened on a regular basis.' This means it's crucial that you visit your primary care doctor for the routine check-ups that they deem necessary. They'll screen you for issues like high cholesterol and high blood pressure while checking other risk factors like your blood sugar and weight, too, he added. 'I think just being hyper-vigilant about those things, especially when these risk factors for stroke are very cryptic, meaning that they don't manifest in any real symptoms, so it's really important for patients to understand that so they take the actionable steps to see their doctor to get these routine screening tests,' Wang said. Your doctor can also review any risk factors outside your control, like gender (strokes are more common in women, Wang said), race (they're more common in Black people, he noted) and personal history. 'In terms of previous medical history, those who have had prior strokes in the past, or if one of their parents had a stroke in the past, are at a much higher risk of having a future stroke,' Wang said. According to both Kim and Wang, one of the habits that is high on a to-avoid list is smoking. 'That definitely increases the risk of stroke, and heart disease, for that matter,' Kim said. 'And one of the ways that it does that is by causing the blood vessels to become narrowed over time, and that can ultimately lead to blockages in blood flow to part of the brain, which is essentially what a stroke is,' he explained. You're probably aware that alcohol is not good for you. It's linked to certain kinds of cancer, liver disease, and yes, stroke, too. Specifically, Kim said there is an 'association between ... excessive alcohol use and heart disease and stroke risk.' Alcohol recommendations vary by person, but, the CDC considers more than four drinks in one sitting for women or five drinks in one sitting for men to be excessive drinking. More than eight drinks per week for women and 15 drinks per week for men is also considered excessive drinking. Generally, it's accepted that women should not have more than one alcoholic drink a day and men should not have more than two, Kim said. These are also the recommendations put forth by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A proper diet is important for managing stroke risk, too. This means moderating foods that are full of saturated fats, sugar and salt, Wang said. (Additionally, Kim pointed out that there is a relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure, which, as we now know, is another stroke risk factor.) When it comes to what you should eat, Kim points to the work of author and journalist Michael Pollan. This advice is 'eat food, mostly plants, not too much,' Wang said. This means having a diet that's rich in fruits and veggies with some meat added in. Since strokes are so common in this country (and this world), it's important that you're aware of the signs and get treated as soon as possible. Available stroke treatments work better the sooner they're done, Kim said. 'Because many strokes aren't painful, and the symptoms of stroke vary so much, it's important to recognize symptoms of stroke,' he said. And, there's a useful acronym to help people remember the signs — and that acronym is FAST, Kim said. FAST stands for 'facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty and time to call 9-1-1,' according to the American Stroke Association website. 'These are not the list of all potential stroke symptoms, but any one of those [factors] raises the suspicion that it could be a stroke, especially if it happens suddenly,' Kim noted. And, once again, it's important to remember that getting treatment as fast as possible is vital, he said. This Is One Of The Biggest Warning Signs You May Experience A Stroke Walking This Many Steps Per Day May Cut Your Risk Of Early Death The New Heart Health Guidelines You Need To Know About
CNET
10-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Stroke Awareness: These 4 Letters Can Help You Save Lives
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every 40 seconds, someone in the US experiences a stroke. Every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, someone dies of a stroke. The American Stroke Association defines a stroke as a "brain attack" that happens when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked, causing brain cells to die and brain damage to occur. Fortunately, there is something we can do to help. Using the acronym "FAST," we can easily remember the warning signs of a stroke. The sooner a person is treated for a stroke, the better the outcome, which is why identifying that a stroke is happening can save lives. Read on to learn more about what FAST means. Signs of a stroke General signs of a stroke include: Numbness in the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of your body Difficulty speaking or understanding others Sudden confusion and mental fogginess Sudden vision issues in one or both eyes Sudden dizziness, incoordination and trouble walking Sudden migraine headache Signs of a stroke tend to look the same in men and women but signs can be less intense in women and often are overlooked. In addition to the signs listed above, women may also feel the following symptoms before stroke: Fatigue Headaches Mind fogginess and memory issues Nausea and vomiting Remember FAST to help identify a stroke This is where the acronym FAST comes in. It's a helpful resource to help recognize if someone is having a stroke and what you should do. F: Face drooping One side of the face is drooping and unable to function as normal. A: Arm weakness One arm suddenly feels numb or weak and cannot be raised simultaneously with the other. S: Speech difficulty Someone is blurring their speech, speaking incoherently or unable to repeat phrases. T: Time to call 911 If you or someone is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, especially on one side of the body, call 911 immediately. Quick medical care is vital in preventing serious long-term harm or disability. Note that the acronym was "BEFAST" for balance problems, eyesight problems, face muscle drooping, arm numbness, speech difficulties and time to call for help. However, a 2024 randomized pilot trial found that people had higher retention and ability to recall stroke symptoms, either partially or fully, with FAST. Possible causes of a stroke While there are risk factors of stroke that can't be changed, like family history or gender, some are preventable. Below is a list of possible stroke risk factors that can be managed: Diabetes Drug use Excessive alcohol consumption Heart disease High blood pressure Obesity Smoking For more advice on managing heart health, here are nine tips to help lower your risk of heart disease and what to do if someone is experiencing a heart attack.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Month of May looks at serious health risks
FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Besides the normal days we look forward to celebrating in May, such as Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day, May also has reasons to address some big health risks. May is Mental Health Awareness Month as well as Military Appreciation Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, May is a time to take action and change the conversation around mental health. May has been celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949, and has been a driving force in facing the challenges millions of Americans with mental health conditions struggle with. One of these groups that deals with mental health conditions is military veterans. According to the 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, in 2022, 17.6 veterans committed suicide per day. The report also shows that in 2022, veteran suicides compared with 34.7 suicides per 100,000 people versus non-veterans at 17.1 per 100,000. The number has risen by 11.4 people over the 21 years the report has been going. Another thing May is known for is American Stroke Month. According to the American Stroke Association, 800,000 people have a stroke per year, though as many as 80% are preventable. The American Stroke Association lists these as warning signs to watch for stroke using the FAST technique: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven? Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like 'The sky is blue.' Time to Call 911 – If you notice any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately. Quick action can save a life. The American Stroke Association also states that you can prevent strokes by managing your blood pressure, living a healthy lifestyle such as eating better and staying active, and monitoring health conditions like AFib and diabetes. Lastly, May is also known for the weekend of May 3 and 4, which is National Firefighter Memorial Weekend, and the week of May 5-11 is Lung Cancer Action Week. 'In 2025 alone, it is estimated that 6,120 Hoosiers will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. But there is hope,' said Tiffany Nichols, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association. 'Thanks to advancements in early detection, treatment, and research, the five-year survival rate has improved by 44% over the past decade. Raising awareness and funds for lung cancer research is more important than ever, and we encourage our community to get involved in Turquoise Takeover.' The Firefighter Cancer Support Network states that in 2013, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) did a study that found firefighters had a 9% higher risk of getting cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from it. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer, and the study found that firefighters are twice as likely as others to get such a cancer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Know the stroke signs and save lives this American Stroke Month
( NewMediaWire ) - May 01, 2025 - DALLAS — Every year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke [1], however, as many as 80% may be preventable with healthy lifestyle changes and screening for risk factors [2]. During May, American Stroke Month, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is raising awareness nationwide that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. A stroke can happen to anyone, even young people. Know the stroke signs, risk factors and how to protect yourself: A stroke happens when normal blood flow in the brain is interrupted. When parts of the brain don't get the oxygen-rich blood they need, those cells die. Quick identification and treatment of stroke improves the chances of survival and recovery. Learn the warning signs Stroke is an emergency. If someone is having a stroke, they must get medical attention right away. Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to identify the most common signs of stroke: Take steps to prevent stroke Black and Hispanic adults in the U.S. face disproportionately higher stroke risk, driven in part by higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes [3], as well as socioeconomic factors that impact access to care and prevention [4]. A large majority of strokes can be prevented: Stroke recovery Those who have had a stroke often must work against physical, emotional and cognitive changes to move forward. Stroke survivors and caregivers can track their health journey, medications and receive trusted information about stroke with the Heart & Stroke Helper app. This American Stroke Month, take action and inspire change by learning the signs of a stroke and talking to your health care team to manage your risk factors. Together, we can change the future of health and transform lives. Learn more at The HCA Healthcare Foundation is a national sponsor of the American Stroke Association's Together to End Stroke(R) initiative and American Stroke Month. ### Additional resources: About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public's health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Follow us on Facebook and X. For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173 Darcy Wallace: [email protected] For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and [1]S S Martin; et al Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2025 Update: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2025;151:e1–e620. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303 [2] [3] [4]E Reshetnyak; et al Impact of Multiple Social Determinants of Health on Incident of Stroke. Stroke. 2020;51:2445–2453 DOI:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.028530 [5]C Bushnell; et al 2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2024;55:e344–e424. DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000475 [6]S S Martin; et al Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2025 Update: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2025;151:e1–e620. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303
Fox News
21-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Pope Francis' official cause of death revealed in announcement from Vatican
Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to an announcement from the Vatican. Fox News' Alex Hogan confirmed in an on-air report that the Pope had a stroke in the early morning of April 21, went into a coma and then had a heart attack. The Pope's death follows years of ongoing health concerns, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia. The official death announcement was made at the Pope's residence in the Chapel of St. Martha on Monday. Pope Francis served for 12 years and advocated for causes including migrant rights, climate change and LGBTQ inclusion, Hogan reported. The day before his death, the Pope met with Vice President JD Vance in Vatican City. While the Pope's recent bout with pneumonia had sparked concerns about his health, the stroke event that led to his death came as a shock among his faithfuls, according to reports. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a primary cause of disability, per the American Stroke Association. "Stroke is injury to the brain from impairment of blood flow," Dr. Sandeep Kumar, a neurologist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, previously told Fox News Digital. "A normal blood supply is vital for the brain to function normally and for the preservation of its structure. Interruption of the blood flow deprives the affected parts of the brain from receiving oxygen and other nutrients, with the result that these tissues start disintegrating rapidly." While there are two main types of strokes, ischemic and hemorrhagic, ischemic strokes are the most common, accounting for 87% of all cases, according to the association. For more Health articles, visit "Blood flow to the brain can be compromised when … a cerebral artery is blocked off either by a blood clot or a plaque," Kumar said. "This is called an ischemic stroke." In the case of a hemorrhagic stroke, the blood vessel supplying the brain ruptures, leading to bleeding within the brain tissue, according to Kumar. "Bleeding can directly damage brain cells or deprive the surrounding tissues of receiving adequate oxygen and nutrients," he added.
