Stroke

Published on: April 27, 2017

Physically Fit Persons Less Likely to Be Disabled After a Stroke

Individuals who are physically fit are less likely to suffer from a disability after a stroke. According to new research, however, physical fitness does not necessarily mean lack of fat. In other words, high body fat percentages are not necessarily predictors of a high risk of disability after a stroke.

According to research conducted at Harvard University, physical inactivity before a stroke is linked to a higher risk of becoming dependent, both before and after the stroke. Researchers focused on more than 18,000 people who had no stroke history. They were followed over a period of 18 years, and during that time, approximately 1,400 persons in the study survived a stroke.

The researchers found that three years after the stroke, people who had a very physically fit lifestyle that included plenty of exercise were 18% more likely to be able to perform independent tasks, such as bathing. They were also 16% more likely to perform complex tasks, like managing their finances, compared to those who were not as physically fit before the stroke.

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Published on: March 24, 2017

Results of New Study Hint at Enhanced Stroke Treatments in the Future

By Lisa Siegel

Stroke treatments in the future could be significantly better than they are now, thanks to research that has found a new way to safely remove clots in patients.

Doctors currently treat stroke by using an infusion which removes the blood clots by dissolving them. However, patients who are given this treatment stand a risk of swelling in the brain and excessive bleeding. In addition, patients must receive the infusion within three hours of suffering the stroke for the treatment to be effective.

However, researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston are using a drug combination that will potentially improve outcomes for stroke patients. The researchers conducted tests on mice, and found that when the mice were given the new treatment, there was a drop in bleeding levels, lowered swelling in the brain, and limited brain damage, compared to animals that were not given the treatment.

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Published on: June 14, 2013

Research Investigates Ways to Limit Effects of Stroke

By Lisa Siegel

New research being conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center is focusing on strategies to prevent the catastrophic effects of stroke. As any Atlanta disability lawyer knows, in most cases of stroke, the person does not die immediately, but may suffer from catastrophic consequences that can have a devastating impact on the rest of his life.

In many cases, persons with stroke are left with severe physical and mental disabilities that even prevent them from being able to care for themselves, or perform routine tasks every day. In many cases, patients need long-term and even lifelong assistance, because they lose their ability to move their limbs for minor functions. In some cases, patients are not even able to get themselves out of bed.

Another major effect of stroke is the effect on speech centers in the brain. Many patients who have suffered a stroke cannot speak any more, and others who have suffered a stroke may have slurred speech. What is worse is that the number of people who suffer and survive a stroke is expected to grow with an increase in the senior population in the country.

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