Stroke Archive

Heart Health

Salt substitute associated with lower rates of stroke, death

Published January 1, 2022

A large study published online Aug. 29, 2021, by The New England Journal of Medicine found that people who used a salt substitute on their food had a lower risk of stroke, heart attack, and early death, compared with people who used regular salt.

Heart Health

Is there such a thing as a silent stroke?

Published January 1, 2022

It is possible to experience a stroke without symptoms. Addressing cardiovascular risk factors can help lower the risk.

Diet and nutrition

Saturated fat and low-carb diets: Still more to learn?

Published December 9, 2021

Low-carbohydrate diets have been popular for many years, but due to the high amounts of saturated fat, doctors and nutritionists worry about possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A study comparing three diets found that eating a high-fat diet did not necessarily raise heart risk, but the types and quantities of food make a difference.

Heart Health

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

Published December 1, 2021

Swapping regular table salt (sodium chloride) with a salt substitute containing some potassium chloride may lower the risk of strokes and related heart problems.

Heart Health

COVID-19 diagnosis raises risk of heart attack, stroke

Published November 1, 2021

A Swedish study suggests that risk of a heart attack or stroke at least triples in the week following a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Heart Health

The danger of a "silent" heart attack

Published November 1, 2021

So-called silent heart attacks (marked by unexplained weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or nausea) often go unrecognized. But they may be almost as concerning as regular heart attacks and have been linked to a higher risk of stroke. Some of this heightened stroke risk stems from shared risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels. But heart attacks can also damage the heart’s lower chambers. This may prevent the heart from contracting normally, which can lead to formation of a clot that then travels to the brain, causing a stroke.

Heart Health

Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: Beyond anti-clotting drugs

Published October 1, 2021

People with atrial fibrillation who develop or face a high risk of serious bleeding from anti-clotting drugs may be candidates for procedures that block or remove a part of the heart where dangerous blood clots form. About 90% of blood clots in the heart form in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small pouch that protrudes from the top of the heart. Two procedures prevent clots from escaping from the LAA and causing a stroke. One delivers a device that blocks the opening of the LAA; the other removes most of the LAA during heart surgery done for another reason.

Exercise and Fitness

Exercise appears to lower atrial fibrillation and stroke risk

Published October 1, 2021

The link between exercise and atrial fibrillation (afib) and stroke prevention is now a little clearer, thanks to a Harvard study. It offers strong evidence that 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for atrial fibrillation and stroke. Researchers aren’t surprised, since exercise helps the chambers of the heart contract and relax, while being sedentary increases afib and stroke risk. Other ways to ward off afib and stroke include treating sleep apnea, quitting smoking, and drinking only in moderation.

Women's Health

Early menopause linked to higher risk of stroke

Published September 1, 2021

Women who go through menopause before they turn 40 may be more likely to have a stroke than women who undergo the transition between 50 and 54, according to a study published in the August 2021 issue of the journal Stroke.

Heart Health

Wearable devices may encourage enough exercise to prevent afib