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Cision Canada
7 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
What you don't know about stroke may surprise you Français
Heart & Stroke shares five essential facts everyone should know this Stroke Month TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn't. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don't know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don't understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**. "This Stroke Month we are raising awareness to help people in Canada better understand stroke, take steps to prevent it, and recognize the signs and know what to do," says Katie White, director of health systems, Heart & Stroke. "Knowing this information can save lives." Five Surprising Facts About Stroke 1. Stroke can happen at any age While stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke. 2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people survive A stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young men. The number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke. "Before I had my stroke, I thought only older people could get them. I had no idea that I was even able to have one," says Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada experienced a severe ischemic stroke at only 23 years old. 3. Stroke is linked to heart health "The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body" says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded researcher. Heart conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the body. Ken Wong, a television producer, father and avid runner was in his 40s when he had a stroke. Tests eventually revealed that Ken was born with a small hole between the upper chambers in his heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) which can increase the risk of stroke caused by a clot. "That's not necessarily why I had a stroke, but that could be the reason," Ken recalls. "Learning that was like a kind of resolution; a bit of relief." 4. Stroke can be prevented Up to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed. 5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke: F Face, is it drooping? A Arms, can you raise them? S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled? T Time to call 9-1-1 right away Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country. "There have been immense improvements in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but stroke is still a leading cause of death and adult disability," says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. "This Stroke Month we invite everyone in Canada to join us as we continue to take action to beat stroke." * National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group. ** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 - June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group. For more information: Backgrounder Download the FAST signs of stroke More information about stroke About Heart & Stroke Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. @HeartandStroke
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
What you don't know about stroke may surprise you
Heart & Stroke shares five essential facts everyone should know this Stroke Month TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn't. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don't know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don't understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**. "This Stroke Month we are raising awareness to help people in Canada better understand stroke, take steps to prevent it, and recognize the signs and know what to do," says Katie White, director of health systems, Heart & Stroke. "Knowing this information can save lives." Five Surprising Facts About Stroke 1. Stroke can happen at any ageWhile stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke. 2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people surviveA stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke. "Before I had my stroke, I thought only older people could get them. I had no idea that I was even able to have one," says Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada experienced a severe ischemic stroke at only 23 years old. 3. Stroke is linked to heart health"The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body" says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the Wong, a television producer, father and avid runner was in his 40s when he had a stroke. Tests eventually revealed that Ken was born with a small hole between the upper chambers in his heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) which can increase the risk of stroke caused by a clot. "That's not necessarily why I had a stroke, but that could be the reason," Ken recalls. "Learning that was like a kind of resolution; a bit of relief." 4. Stroke can be preventedUp to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed. 5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke: F Face, is it drooping? A Arms, can you raise them? S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled? T Time to call 9-1-1 right away Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country. "There have been immense improvements in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but stroke is still a leading cause of death and adult disability," says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. "This Stroke Month we invite everyone in Canada to join us as we continue to take action to beat stroke." *National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group.** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 - June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group. For more information: Backgrounder Download the FAST signs of stroke More information about stroke About Heart & Stroke Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. @HeartandStroke SOURCE Heart and Stroke Foundation View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
How studying what space travel does to astronauts' health is leading to innovations on Earth
When astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico following a nine month space odyssey — what was initially meant to be a mere eight-day test flight — crews had to carry out their atrophied bodies from the SpaceX capsule and onto stretchers. It's become a common procedure for astronauts returning from extended travels in space, who often experience intense nausea and difficulty walking on re-entry to Earth, experts said. Our bodies, evolved over hundreds of millennia to adapt to Earth's environments, are not designed to survive in the cosmos. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Canada Space debris is cluttering our orbit. Can falling space junk hit a plane? A new paper by University of British Columbia researchers paints a stark picture of the risks of space debris on commercial flights. Canada Space debris is cluttering our orbit. Can falling space junk hit a plane? A new paper by University of British Columbia researchers paints a stark picture of the risks of space debris on commercial flights. 'Space as a whole is an extreme environment. And it can be very disabling, even to the fittest individual,' said Dr. Farhan Asrar, associate dean at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine and a global faculty member at International Space University. As researchers examine deep space travel, longer voyages and even the colonization of other planets, the question of how we can keep humans healthy in space has become a vital one. A new commentary by Asrar, published in Nature Monday, delves into the key challenges with space medicine — as well as the myriad of benefits the endeavour has had on Earthbound health care. What space travel does to the human body Space travel can affect us in numerous, often surprising ways. Away from the protection of Earth's ozone layer, the human body will be bombarded by extreme levels of radiation. It's estimated that astronauts on their way to Mars will experience what amounts to a year's worth of radiation on Earth every day of their months-long voyage. This can significantly raise one's risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and more, Asrar said. 'And now, people are focusing on looking at deep space voyages — the radiation tends to be even higher there.' Then there's the lack of gravity. Our bones, muscles and heart are calibrated to strain against this fundamental force; in its absence, these systems can quickly start breaking from disuse, explained Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts, life sciences and space medicine at the Canadian Space Agency. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Life Opinion Leanne Delap: Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez jet off on a controversial trip to space. Why their 'glam' getaway isn't a giant leap for womankind The billionaire-funded Blue Origin expedition lifts off with a celebrity-stacked, all-women crew today. Life Opinion Leanne Delap: Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez jet off on a controversial trip to space. Why their 'glam' getaway isn't a giant leap for womankind The billionaire-funded Blue Origin expedition lifts off with a celebrity-stacked, all-women crew today. The effects are similar to accelerated ageing: 'Six months in space can correspond to about ten or sometimes even 20 years of aging on the ground,' Caron, who is not affiliated with Asrar's paper, said. 'Fortunately for the astronauts, when they come back down on Earth, they can actually recover a lot of what they've lost.' Time spent in microgravity, combined with the radiation exposure, can ravage our bodies and lead to losses in bone density, vision changes due to fluid shifts in the eyes or even organ damage, Asrar's paper reads. In some cases, the damage was lasting, he said — some astronauts had to start wearing glasses or reported bone fractures after returning to Earth. On top of all the physical hurdles, astronauts must also contend with the psychological toll of what may be months spent in a cramped, dangerous and stressful environment, away from loved ones, he continued. 'On Earth, if someone has a health issue, you can immediately call an ambulance or go to the ER,' Asrar said. 'But in space, obviously, it just makes the health care delivery so much more challenging.' How do astronauts stay healthy in space? Astronauts undergo a great deal of preparation both before, during and after their space trips to ensure their health — including health checks and training before flight, regular physical conditioning while in space and weeks of physical therapy and rehabilitation after re-entry to Earth. But for trips into deep space, these may not be enough. Asrar's paper defined four 'key strands' of space medicine critical for mission success, as well as human health on Earth: Remote health care, mental health, food production and basic human biology. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Astronauts depend on telemedicine to monitor and support their health, Asrar writes. But long space voyages can disrupt this process; it can take 20 minutes each way for astronauts on Mars to communicate with doctors on Earth — much too long when dealing with emergencies like a heart attack, for example. The development of artificial intelligence health systems may provide a solution. But there are still more issues to contend with; many ingredients in medications degrade faster as a result of the intense radiation, for example, and resupplying crucial medicines in deep space is 'infeasible,' Asrar's paper reads. Canada 'He had the weight of Canada on his shoulders': An oral history of Canada's first trip to space, 40 years later Marc Garneau flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on Oct. 5, 1984, becoming the first Canadian in space. This is the story of that flight, Canada 'He had the weight of Canada on his shoulders': An oral history of Canada's first trip to space, 40 years later Marc Garneau flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on Oct. 5, 1984, becoming the first Canadian in space. This is the story of that flight, Then there's the challenge of maintaining mental health amid the fatigue, stress and isolation of space travel. While further research is needed on this front, advancements are being made, from lighting systems meant to maintain more conventional circadian rhythms to virtual-reality headsets. It could take seven to ten months to travel to space — meaning spacefarers would need to produce their own food. On this front, a number of new systems that require few resources to grow fruits and veggies in harsh environments are being developed. Finally, Asrar and Caron note there is still much unknown about how extended space trips will affect our biology. 'The International Space Station is really close, relatively speaking, to the Earth,' Caron said. 'But if we venture towards the moon, that's about a thousand times further away. Mars is a million times farther away. We really, absolutely need to know what happens to the human body before we reach those destinations.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW How space health care is leading new innovations on Earth Each of the four strands identified by Asrar come with significant benefits for health care on Earth. For example, advancements in telemedicine have helped deliver crucial care to members of remote communities and have skyrocketed in use during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Asrar said. Similarly, optimizations in the dosage and storage of drugs may help improve medications on Earth, his paper read. Meanwhile, insights into maintaining mental health in isolation have proven invaluable in resolving Earthbound crises — Asrar's paper noted that, in 2010, the Chilean government consulted NASA when 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground. World NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform the 5th all-female spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance s… World NASA astronauts step outside space station to perform the 5th all-female spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An astronaut who missed out on the first all-female spacewalk because of a spacesuit sizing issue got her chance s… Improving food production can help feed isolated communities struggling with food insecurity; if we can grow veggies in the void of space, we can grow them in the harsh environment of northern Canada, Asrar said. Finally, insights into how human biology unravels in space can lead to a better understanding of our own bodies. Even the struggle to keep astronauts physically fit in space has translated into sports medicine and athletics on Earth, he said. 'There's a number of areas where I would say that space has been playing a role — especially when we look at things that are being developed for deep space missions — that would be relevant for us here on Earth,' Asrar concluded.
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Giles: Ontario must not dismantle protection for endangered wildlife
On the Thursday before the Easter long weekend, the Ford government introduced a bill that, if passed, would have devastating consequences for species at risk, all in the name of fast-tracking economic development. Article content Article content Bill 5, the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy' act, would strip away essential protections for wildlife — including scrapping the province's landmark Endangered Species Act — at a time when many conservationists, myself included, are increasingly concerned about the state of our natural world. Article content Article content In October, the World Wildlife Fund released new global data that showed catastrophic population declines in wildlife — an average decrease of 73 per cent — since 1970. In Canada, populations of at-risk species of global concern have declined by an average 42 per cent over the same time. Article content A glaring rejection of science Article content The Ford government isn't just making a policy change. It is sending wildlife that is already on the brink over the edge and is a glaring rejection of the science that tells us what's needed to stop the slide toward extinction. Article content We've done the research and know what it will take to recover Ontario's rich biodiversity. And importantly, we have a good idea how much it will cost. Article content A recent study led by WWF-Canada and the University of British Columbia, conducted before Bill 5 was introduced and currently under peer review, looked at the state of biodiversity in the Lake Simcoe-Rideau ecoregion of Southern Ontario, a hotspot for species at risk. Article content Article content The region, home to big cities such as Ottawa and Kingston, has been heavily impacted by dense development, habitat degradation and nature loss. Species like the piping plover, gray fox and Blanding's turtle face multiple threats and are all at risk of extinction. They are also currently protected under the Endangered Species Act. Article content Article content Article content In fact, Ontario has more than 270 species at risk of extinction. Our research focused on 133 of them, whose declining populations or conservation status make them priorities for local and national environmentalists. Using a tool called priority threat management, we predicted the likely outcomes for these species under different conservation strategies, policies and funding scenarios through to 2050.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dead, dried and hidden in cargo: The global illegal seahorse trade is growing fast
Close to five million smuggled seahorses, worth an estimated €18.5 million, were seized over the past decade. It is a staggering number that researchers say still underrepresents the true scale of the illegal trade. A new study published in Conservation Biology examined global wildlife seizure data from 2010 to 2021 and discovered that seahorses – either dead and dried or alive – were most often found hidden in luggage or shipped by sea cargo across 62 countries. The majority were bound for traditional medicine markets in Asia. But those aren't the only markets anymore. The researchers discovered that Europe and Latin America are increasingly showing up in trafficking routes, too. 'The nearly 300 seizures we analysed were based only on online records and voluntary disclosures including government notices and news stories,' says Dr Sarah Foster, a research associate at the University of British Columbia's Project Seahorse and the study's lead author. 'What we're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg.' Seahorses have long been prized in traditional medicine, especially in China and Hong Kong, where they're dried, ground into powder and used in treatments for ailments ranging from asthma to impotence. They're also traded as dried souvenirs or live animals for aquariums. Demand for them has proven difficult to regulate. Related Italian butterfly thieves handed highest-ever fine for wildlife crime in Sri Lanka Conflict between humans and Zimbabwe's 100,000 elephants is growing. Could this new tech help? International trade in seahorses is legal under the CITES treaty – an agreement recognised by 184 countries, including the whole of the EU. But it is only allowed if permits prove that exporting them won't harm wild populations. In practice, those permits are hard to secure. That's pushed the trade underground, where traffickers exploit weak enforcement and shifting trade routes, according to the researchers. 'The trade routes appear to be diversifying, and so must enforcement efforts,' says Syd Ascione, a research biologist at Project Seahorse. Seahorses are often seized alongside other trafficked items like pangolin scales and elephant ivory. It shows how deeply marine species are entangled in the global wildlife crime economy – a trade worth up to €20 billion annually, according to Interpol. In February, a global wildlife trafficking crackdown saw 20,000 live animals seized, from tiger cubs to songbirds. In Europe, smugglers have previously been caught transporting reptiles under their clothes. And in April, two Belgian teenagers found trafficking 5,000 ants were fined €6,775 or given the option of serving 12 months in prison by a court in Kenya for violating wildlife conservation laws. A 2024 UN report found that more than 4,000 species are affected by wildlife trafficking, driving some rare species to extinction. Still, marine species tend to receive less attention – and less protection – than their more charismatic land-dwelling counterparts, according to the UN. But their quiet disappearance affects everything from coral habitats to the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on the sea for food or commerce. Controlling the trade has also proven difficult. They can be a valuable income source for fishers, Foster says, and there are gaps in enforcement. The study found recorded values for seized seahorses in only 34 cases, but was able to estimate an average price of about €4.50 per animal – a low number but one that adds up quickly when trafficked in bulk. Related 'Road rage' in paradise: Traffic noise is changing how birds in the Galápagos behave Scientists find traces of cocaine in sharks caught off the coast of Brazil. How did it get there? While airports are common seizure points for trafficked seahorses, the largest volumes are found in sea cargo, a frequently overlooked transport method. Of the 300 cases the group examined, only seven per cent included information about legal penalties. That raises questions about how often traffickers are prosecuted and whether current penalties are enough to slow their trade. 'All countries must step up with strong deterrents – good detective work, determined enforcement and meaningful penalties,' says Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff of OceansAsia, the study's senior author. At the same time, Foster adds, there's a need to support sustainable alternatives. Those efforts start with bringing the legal seahorse trade into the light to protect their populations, perhaps providing a blueprint for better marine conservation everywhere. 'When we ask [traditional medicine traders in Hong Kong], 'How long do you want seahorses around?', they say 'Forever, they're really important!'' she says. 'And we agree.'
