If you are taking Plavix, an anti-clotting medication, you need to know that drugs prescribed to treat heartburn, known as proton-pump inhibitors, may be dangerous to your health. These medications, which include Nexium and Prilosec, can actually increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. This presents a problem for patients, since their doctor may [...]
stroke
Your risk of having a stroke or developing early onset coronary artery disease may be genetic. Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have discovered a single gene defect that causes these two health issues, as well as thoracic aortic aneurysms, ischemic stroke, and Moyamoya disease (a rare disorder affecting the [...]
Would you like to know your risk of stroke? Valley residents in Arizona can visit a participating hospital to find out. The hospitals and the American Stroke Association are picking up the tab for the StrokeCheck screenings, which would cost $250-$300 if patients were paying for them. It’s a small price to pay when you [...]
We have heard that “breast is best” for babies, but the results of a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology indicate that this practice has health benefits for mothers as well. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh examined the health records of almost 140,000 post-menopausal women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative. [...]
With the economic conditions being what they are and companies laying off workers in large numbers, those who are left are expected to work harder to pick up the slack. The increased workload adds more stress to our already stressed-out lives. Now, more than ever, it’s important to find ways to cope with job stress. [...]
Now you have another reason to welcome spring: People are more likely to have a particular kind of highly-fatal stroke in colder months. Doctors in Hong Kong have found that January is the month when most aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages occur. The mortality rate for this type of stroke comes in at 50 percent, and most [...]
Even though one-third of adult Americans take Aspirin in an effort to prevent heart attacks and stroke, the practice was still considered controversial. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has released some guidelines that should put the issue to rest. This type of therapy is effective in preventing heart attacks in men between the ages [...]
One of the more troublesome aftereffects of a stroke can be impaired vision. This is due to a condition called “visual neglect.” It causes the patient to have trouble seeing objects that are on the opposite side to the portion of the brain affected by the stroke. If the stroke was on the right side [...]
If you enjoy a good cup of coffee as part of your daily routine, there is no need to give it up if you are concerned about your risk of stroke. A study that followed a group of 83,000 women for 24 years has found that a moderate intake of this popular beverage will lower [...]
The combination of an ischemic stroke and an abnormal heart cycle is not a good one. This set of symptoms means that the patient is more likely to die within three months than someone who does not have any abnormal electrical activity in his or her heart. An EKG measures the electrical activity in the [...]
