Aug 19, 2016
Using aspirin urgently could substantially reduce the risk of major strokes in patients who have minor ‘warning’ events, a group of European researchers has found. Writing in the Lancet, the team say that immediate self-treatment when patients experience stroke-like symptoms would considerably reduce the risk of major stroke over the next few days.
Aspirin is already given to people who have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA — often called a ‘mini-stroke’) to prevent further strokes after they have been assessed in hospital and in the longer-term, reducing the subsequent stroke risk by about 15%. However, based on a previous study in Oxford (the EXPRESS Study) the team suspected that the benefits of more immediate treatment with aspirin could be much greater. (more…)
Aug 18, 2016
Does a long travel time to a primary stroke center (PSC) offset the potential benefits of this specialized care?
In an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine, Kimon Bekelis, M.D., of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, N.H., and coauthors analyzed data for a national group of Medicare beneficiaries and calculated travel time to evaluate the association of seven-day and 30-day death rates with receiving care in a PSC.
(more…)
Aug 17, 2016
There is growing evidence that sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea are related to stroke risk and recovery from stroke, according to a recent literature review. The review is published in the August 3, 2016, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Based on the review, the authors recommend that people who have had a stroke or a mini-stroke, called a transient ischemic attack, be screened for sleep disorders.
“Although sleep disorders are common after a stroke, very few stroke patients are tested for them,” said study author Dirk M. Hermann, MD, of University Hospital Essen in Essen, Germany. “The results of our review show that should change, as people with sleep disorders may be more likely to have another stroke or other negative outcomes than people without sleep problems, such as having to go to a nursing home after leaving the hospital.”
The researchers also recommend that sleep apnea be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), based on evidence that shows that its use can improve outcomes after stroke.
For the literature review, the researchers examined dozens of studies that looked at the link between sleep disturbances and stroke. They then combined the data of multiple studies in a meta-analysis.
Sleep disorders generally fall into two categories: sleep breathing problems and sleep-wake disorders. Sleep breathing problems like sleep apnea disrupt breathing while asleep. Sleep-wake disorders like insomnia and restless leg syndrome affect the amount of time spent asleep.
The review found evidence linking sleep breathing problems with stroke risk and recovery. Sleep-wake disorders may increase stroke risk and harm recovery, although there is less evidence to prove so.
Due to this lack of evidence and to possible side effects, the researchers are cautious to recommend treatment of sleep-wake disorders with drugs.
Story Source: American Academy of Neurology. “Insomnia? Oversleeping? Both may increase your risk of stroke.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 August 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160803214246.htm>.
Aug 9, 2016
Lilja Stefánsdóttir, housewife; RAX (Ragnar Guðni Axelsson ) photographer and Thorir Steingrímsson chairman of Heilaheill, Icelandic stroke support organisation, presented new mobile App in TV show “Sirrý” on TV Hringbraut on July 27, 2016. The guests are all stroke survivors and members of HEILAHEILL.
With this activity started the promotion and distribution of new Brain-App, a life-saving measure for those with stroke symptoms, directly connected to the Emergency Service Line 112. This is an App designed for free download to all smartphones and anyone can download it through their provider, the Apple Store, Google Play or others. (more…)
Aug 8, 2016
The SAFE board have agreed that we want to associate purple color and stroke across Europe. Using the same color in our materials will tie our work together across languages. Shared use of purple also makes it easier for us to adapt each others’ materials and share it from one country to another, from one language to another.
We would like to invite our members and other supporters to start using purple color and support this decision. (more…)
Aug 8, 2016
The German Stroke Foundation has a new home. After 13 months of rehabilitation time this stroke support organisation took over officially the building in Schulstraße 22, Gütersloh, provided by the Bertelsmann Foundation. This foundation has bought the house in May 2015 at the initiative of Liz Mohn, founder and president of Stroke organisation from the town of Gütersloh. (more…)
