Latest news with #stroke
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Nutrient May Help Lower Your Stroke Risk by 36%, New Study Says
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDA new study suggests that eating the right amount of zinc may help reduce stroke risk. Having more than the recommended amount did not further reduce stroke risk. Zinc is found in foods like seafood, meat, poultry, dairy, nuts and year, nearly 800,000 Americans have a stroke—it's one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. The good news is that some strokes can be prevented through lifestyle habits. For example, getting plenty of physical activity, managing your stressors, not smoking, limiting salt and alcohol and eating plenty of fiber and seafood each week have all been linked to lower stroke risk. We also know that certain eating patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, are linked to lower risk factors for stroke, including blood pressure and cholesterol. Researchers sometimes hone in on one particular nutrient, as opposed to an eating pattern, to take a closer look at associations between it and certain conditions. In this case, researchers from China examined the relationship between dietary zinc intake and stroke risk. They recently published their findings in Scientific Reports. Let's break them down. Researchers drew data from a long-running U.S. study called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). After weeding through potential participants, they ended up with 2,642 for this current assessment. Around 54% of them were female, and participants had an average age of 63. For NHANES, participants completed several 24-hour dietary recalls, documenting what they had eaten the previous day. For this study, researchers took those recalls and looked for foods containing zinc, as well as zinc-containing supplements. The average of two 24-hour dietary recalls was used for each participant's total zinc intake. Researchers then divided participants into four quartiles (or groups) based on zinc intake: less than 6.08 mg/day (Q1), 6.08-8.83 mg/day (Q2), 8.84-13.02 mg/day (Q3) and more than 13.02 mg/day (Q4). The assessment of stroke was also self-reported and based on whether a health professional had ever diagnosed the participant with a stroke. During statistical analyses, researchers adjusted for factors including age, gender, race or ethnicity, BMI, smoking history, average caloric intake, health history and some other factors. After running several statistical analyses, researchers state that those who consumed about 6 to 9 mg per day of zinc had a lower risk of stroke compared to those who consumed less than 6 mg per day. Specifically, those in Q2 had 36% lower odds of having a stroke compared to those in Q1. Interestingly, higher zinc intake—more than 9 mg per day (Q3 and Q4)—did not provide any more protection against stroke risk than consuming 6 to 9 mg per day (Q2) did. That suggests that moderation is key when it comes to zinc consumption. This study has several limitations, including the fact that everything was self-reported, including dietary intake, stroke diagnosis and medical history. This always leaves room for bias and inaccuracies in remembering. The study sample size of participants used was also small, which tends to lower the statistical power and accuracy of the results. Finally, this study cannot establish cause and effect. In other words, it cannot be said that lower zinc intake increases stroke risk; it can only be concluded that there appears to be an association between zinc intake and stroke risk. Related: The #1 Food You Should Limit to Reduce Stroke Risk, According to Dietitians The recommended intake for zinc is a minimum of 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. So it's interesting that the benefits of zinc were seen even for those who fell under the minimum recommended amount. The upper limit for zinc is 40 mg/day for both men and women—eat or take more than that, and it can be harmful and cause some nasty side effects, including headaches, upset stomach and vomiting. Lower stroke risk isn't the only thing zinc may help with. We previously reported that people who had recommended levels of zinc intake had slower biological aging compared to those with too little or too much zinc. And its positive effects multiplied when people were also getting enough physical activity. It's important to note, though, that those taking more than the recommended upper limit of 40 mg/day showed an increase of 7 years of biological aging. Again, more is not necessarily better, and it can result in overdosing, even with vitamins and minerals. Zinc is important because it's involved in many processes in the body, including immunity, growth and development and wound healing. It's also necessary for proper cell development and for manufacturing DNA. Zinc is found in many foods, including meats, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts and seeds. Eating patterns like the Mediterranean diet, DASH diet (a diet specifically for healthy blood pressure) and the MIND diet, which is a fusion of the DASH and Mediterranean diets, all provide plenty of zinc-rich foods and limit sodium, added sugars and processed and red meats—all factors that play into disease risk, including stroke. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke. If you're trying to manage your blood pressure, give this 7-Day High-Protein Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for High Blood Pressure a go. Physical activity, stress and sleep also play major roles in managing blood pressure and stroke prevention, so assess which areas need some attention. Choose one or two areas and start with small, sustainable changes so that you can gradually build on your success over time. Related: 7 Habits to Reduce Your Risk of Stroke, According to Doctors and Dietitians This study suggests that the minimal daily recommended amount of zinc was associated with a reduced risk of stroke compared to those with lower levels; the benefits plateaued, and those with higher levels than the minimal recommended amount did not show any additional benefits regarding stroke risk. Include foods rich in zinc each day, like meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts and seeds. If you think your zinc intake might be too low or too high, meet with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider who can help figure that out. A dietitian can also help you determine if a supplement would be helpful if you're having trouble eating enough foods rich in zinc. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
CNA
2 days ago
- General
- CNA
Community-based charity launches new initiatives to help stroke survivors
Stroke survivors in Singapore are co-developing solutions with innovators in a new lab that seeks to help them lead independent and functional lives again. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in Singapore, with the number of cases rising by 58 percent between 2011 and 2021 to 9,680. Nadine Yeam reports.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
AI Tool Linked to Fewer Recurrent Events After Stroke
HELSINKI, Finland — An artificial intelligence (AI)–based clinical decision support system helped doctors make decisions in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and was associated with a significant reduction in recurrent vascular events in a new, randomized trial. The AI system integrated clinician input with data from the hospital records and imaging of more than 20,000 patients in China to help guide patient management around stroke etiology and secondary prevention. The trial represents a strong case for the future role of AI in stroke care, said Study Chair, Li Zhang, MD, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 'By harnessing AI to deliver rapid, evidence-based guidance, we've shown that decision support can move beyond theory into practice — improving both how we treat acute strokes and the lives of our patients.' However, experts not involved in the study noted that the research is based on Chinese stroke guidelines — which differ from guidelines in the United States and United Kingdom — and would need to be replicated in the West before use. Zhang presented the results of the GOLDEN BRIDGE II trial on May 22 at the European Stroke Organization Conference (ESOC) 2025. A Test of AI in Stroke Management Rapid and accurate decision-making is critical in acute stroke management, and AI tools offering automated imaging analysis, stroke subtype classification, and guideline-based treatment recommendations, hold promise for standardizing care and improving outcomes, Zhang noted. The GOLDEN BRIDGE II trial was designed to test this hypothesis in a real-world, multicenter setting. The trial, which had a cluster randomized design, was conducted from January 2021 to June 2023 in 77 hospitals in China. The hospitals were randomized to use the AI support system or to continue usual care. The AI system provided automated MRI lesion detection and lesion characteristics analysis, algorithmic classification of stroke etiology and pathogenesis, with real-time, guideline-based recommendations for secondary prevention. The trial included 21,603 patients with acute ischemic stroke (median age, 67 years; 35% women), with 96% completing a 12-month follow-up. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of new vascular events (composite of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death) at 3 months after stroke onset. A 'Strong Case' Results showed that patients for whom the AI model was used had significantly fewer recurrent vascular events at all three time points evaluated. Rates of recurrent vascular events in the intervention group vs the control group were 2.9% vs 3.9% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.71; P < .001) at 3 months; 3.4% vs 4.8% (aHR, 0.70; P < .001) at 6 months; and 4.0% vs 5.5% (aHR, 0.70; P < .001) at 12 months. The use of the AI tool was also associated with a lower all-cause mortality at 6 months (2.0% vs 2.3%; aHR, 0.78; P = .007) and at 12 months (3.0% vs 3.5%; aHR 0.77; P < .001). In addition, patients at the hospitals using the AI tool were more likely to achieve a higher composite acute ischemic stroke quality score (91.4 % vs 89.7 %; odds ratio, 1.26; P < .001). A potential limitation of the study was the cluster randomized design, which could allow variations in care between hospitals to influence the results. But Zhang concluded that the trial represents a strong case for the future role of AI in stroke care, saying that the findings 'support wider adoption of AI-driven decision support to optimize acute stroke care and patient outcomes globally.' Not Ready for Routine Clinical Use Commenting on the findings during a discussion on the GOLDEN BRIDGE II trial, Carlos Molina, MD, head of Neurology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, noted several study strengths, including the large study cohort and the clinical and technological validation of the sophisticated AI system used in the trial. 'This is an important step,' he added, 'but there are always concerns when we think about trying to integrate AI into clinical practice.' Georgios Tsivgoulis, MD, professor of neurology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, noted that although there was a substantial reduction in vascular events and recurrent strokes in the intervention group, the mechanisms that led to this reduction were not clear. 'How did the AI improve clinical practice? Was it through imaging, was it because of better adherence to the Chinese stroke guidelines or was it related to better stroke subtype classification and perhaps treatment individualization? I would like to see more information about the step between the AI implementation and the event reduction results,' he commented. Karin Klijn, professor and chair of neurology at Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, said the improvement in recurrent events appeared to be driven by the imaging. 'But we didn't hear any details, and we need to see more details so we can see where improvements can be made.' 'However, this was an impressive study in that it involved more than 70 hospitals and more than 20,000 patients. I think AI will help us to achieve the same level of confidence for all the images we have to examine and decisions we have made. I see great potential for this technology,' Klijn added. The trial would also need to be replicated in the Western world for the AI tool to be used in Europe or North America, Tsivgoulis said. 'The GOLDEN BRIDGE II trial is based on the Chinese stroke guidelines which are substantially different from European and US stroke guidelines,' he pointed out. 'It would need to be replicated in Europe and North America using standardized European Stroke Organization and American Stroke Association guidelines to see if this huge beneficial effect can be replicated in Western patients.' Molina agreed, adding that 'the data sources used to train this model are critical to avoid bias that AI can amplify.' In the future, more complex large language models will be available that involve real time interaction with the user and include reinforcing learning, Molina added. 'This prototype is evolving and interaction with the user is critical. There is a lot to learn about that. But this is the first step,' he said. Also commenting, Alastair Webb, MD, clinical reader in stroke medicine at Imperial College London, London, England, also had questions on how it could be implemented in practice. 'This study was designed a few years ago and has taken years to produce these results. How do we keep the algorithm updated and incorporate the continuous changes in clinical practice that occur? We can't do a trial for every update. So we are going to have to integrate this technology into our systems with some sort of real time method of assessing whether every new evolution doesn't cause harm, doesn't make the wrong decision in a large language model.'
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Kids as young as 3 should learn how to spot a stroke, says doctor
Children as young as three and four should be taught how to recognise the symptoms of a stroke, according to a top doctor in the UAE. This could increase awareness about the disease and ensure that victims get treatment during the 'golden hour' that dramatically increases the chances of survival. 'It should be part of their curriculum in the school,' Dr Suhail Abdulla AlRukn, President of the MENA Stroke Organisation, told Khaleej Times. 'In kindergarten and primary school, they should teach signs and symptoms of a stroke because children could see their family members having one and can become heroes who help them get the right treatment. It can be part of their education to have one or two classes per year about the symptoms of a stroke. That message will then go directly and indirectly into the community and to every house.' Dr Suhail was speaking on the sidelines of an event to raise awareness about strokes — in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI). He said that it was important for people to remember the acronym BEFAST to recognise a stroke. 'Once these signs are spotted, an ambulance should be called by dialing 998,' he said. 'It is important that the person is taken to a stroke specialist centre in the UAE, so as not to waste time. Emergency responders will know which nearest hospital to transport the patient to.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Timely intervention The golden hour for a stroke is considered to be the first hour because if treatment is administered within that time, there is a higher chance of survival. However, Dr Suhail said that many people do not understand the urgency of it. 'Last week, I had a 59-year-old Indian stroke patient,' he said. 'Her sister came with her and when I outlined the plan, she said she had to call her brother-in-law and her sister's children to discuss the treatment and then take a decision. This doesn't work for a stroke patient.' He also highlighted that it was important to reduce the intake of salt to reduce the incidence of a stroke. 'Seventy per cent of stroke victims have high blood pressure,' he said. 'Salt is one of the reasons for high blood pressure. People should have only 1.2 grams per day, which is equal to one portion of a pizza.' He added that it was important for health authorities to highlight the amount of salt on labels of food items. Life saving treatment For Ahmed Nawazy, timely treatment is what made the difference between life and death. In 2017, the then 27-year-old had just moved to Dubai from his hometown in Egypt to join a company in a senior position. Within months of arriving, he suffered a stroke while bathing his seven and five-year-old daughters. 'My wife had seen her grandmother suffer a stroke, so she immediately knew what was happening,' he said. 'She called the ambulance and I was rushed to a stroke specialist hospital where I got life-saving treatment.' He said he got immense support from his company, who gave him extended sick leave and then lighter loads as he made a full recovery from the incident. Today, Ahmed is doing better than ever and has had a son since. 'It was the timely medical attention that helped me rebuild my life,' he said. According to Ousama Al Haj of BI, the company understood the importance of raising awareness. 'This year we're giving special focus to raising awareness because we brought a new medication to the UAE,' he said. 'We are empowering people to act, recover, and take action. In the case of a stroke, the earlier the intervention, the better it is.'
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Would you be able to recognize signs of a stroke?
You're reading The Checkup With Dr. Wen, a newsletter on how to navigate medical and public health challenges. Click here to get the full newsletter in your inbox, including answers to reader questions and a summary of new scientific research. Recently, I saw a patient who was recovering from a stroke. She told me she was having breakfast when she realized something was wrong. She kept dropping her spoon because her fingers could no longer grasp it. She took a drink of her coffee and felt liquid dribbling down her chin. When she looked in the mirror, one side of her face sagged.
