Stroke risk rises for those in their 20s

This article (see link below) begins with a story of a 26-year-old man who had a stroke. Mine happened at age 39 (in hindsight, I now consider that to be young).

The story highlights that the odds of stroke rise sharply among young people:

Although stroke has long been considered an illness of advanced age, statistics show a startling demographic reversal in recent years. Even while strokes are on the decline in older adults, decreasing by more than 25 percent for people older than 45, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, the chances of stroke have soared alarmingly among people in early adulthood and middle age.

From 1994 through 2007, CDC research shows, the rate of ischemic stroke jumped by 47 percent for men ages 35 to 44 and 36 percent for women in the same age group. For men in their early 20s, the number of stroke-related hospitalizations rose by more than 50 percent during that period.

What do to? Follow stroke prevention guidance, and know the signs. Even if you are young - or surrounded by those who are young.

Good balance? Might indicate a decreased stroke risk

I'm trying to catch up with all the interesting stories found in my Google alerts about stroke news after some time off.

As someone who is not particularly good at balance, I was intrigued by an article indicating that if you can balance on one leg? You may have lower stroke risk:

Difficulty standing on one leg may indicate that small strokes or tiny bleeds have already occurred, which means the risk for more serious strokes is high, the investigators reported online Dec. 18 in the journal Stroke.

Treating even mild high blood pressure can pay off

I'm a big believer in watching blood pressure - it can be a sign of many, treatable problems. That includes stroke. In fact, high blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes.

Plus, it's an easy number to get checked - with consultation with a health professional, you can buy and learn to use a device to check it at home - and it involves no needles, scalpels or lab results.

Now, recent study shows a link between treating even mild high blood pressure pays off for stroke prevention:

Stroke falls in U.S. causes of death

In the news, you can find a New Year hint that stroke treatment seems to be working. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that stroke is dropping down the list of cause of death in the United States.

Read through this link how stroke falls one place to fifth leading cause of death in U.S.:

Commenting on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, the American Heart Association (AHA) hypothesize that the drop in deaths from stroke is due to advances in the treatment and prevention of stroke. In particular, the AHA note, there are more stroke centers now operating across the US, and there has also been an improvement in acute care of stroke.

Happy New Year, Godzilla!

Resolution for myself: Don't be too judgmental.

So, with that in mind, a confession: Last week, I recorded several old Godzilla movies, stretching from 1954 into 1992. I've enjoyed most of them, including this dancing Godzilla scene from "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero," which goes by other names as well, including "Invasion of Astro-Monster."

I must admit, most of these movies are pretty bad. Dancing monsters. Monsters imitating soccer with boulders. Young monster befriending a child (in all fairness, it's in the child's dream). Unlikely flying saucers. Aliens wearing slightly modified cones that you see for pets after surgery.

Now, what's that got to do with being too judgmental?

Christmas: '...and for love of us came to us ...'

When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating that amazing time when the Word that shouted all the galaxies into being, limited all power, and for love of us came to us in the powerless body of a human baby.

-Madeleine L'Engle

As the season of Christmas is still with us - until Epiphany on Jan. 6 - I wanted to add this quote from Madeleine L'Engle, best know as the author of "A Wrinkle in Time."

These are words to ponder. Celebrating the birth of, from outward appearances, a human baby - but knowing that this baby was the embodiment of the one who created you and loves you. What am amazing time that must have been.

So today, as people are so tempted to move past Christmas as if we can just put it away, keep Ms. L'Engle's quote in mind. Before that first Christmas, God first "shouted all the galaxies in being" and made humanity.

Yes, we celebrate that birth during this time of year. But that love is more than a day, a season. God's love for you was your gift on Dec. 25, today, tomorrow and as the New Year dawns. Every and all days, God's love is present and accessible for you.

'Lazarus effect' - then and now

[This was originally posted Dec. 24, 2009; revised in 2014]

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.

"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

-John 11:38-44

A few years ago (2008), I heard a presentation by one of the doctors responsible for making tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) available to stroke patients.

In my own 1998 experience, I could not speak, I could not move my right arm or leg - but after the clot-busting tPA, I regained those abilities. It was a dramatic experience. The doctor called it "the Lazarus effect."

Another study shows possible stroke treatment outcomes

As the year gets close to an end, we've lately seen two pieces of news that might - might - lead to better outcomes for stroke patients in hospitals.

A few days ago, there was research showing that a clot removal technique might be the next step in certain stroke treatment. Click here to read about it.

One of the concerns about tissue plasminogen activator clotbuster - tPA - is a risk of bleeding. Now, though, research indicates the possibility that another drug might counters tPA risks:

Positive news for new stroke treatment - clot removal

There's promising news that there's more than one way to battle a clot-related stroke. Maybe, in some circumstances, better than current medical treatment.

Read here about a study showing how clot removal proves mettle in large-vessel strokes:

Headlines can hit or miss the story

Photo from the
National Institute on Aging

I'm a journalist by trade, and I've seen some great - and not so great - stories about strokes, research and treatment.

For instance, over the last few days, I've seen stories about a recent study about memory loss and stroke risk. The study included a portion saying that people who complain about memory loss have a higher risk of stroke. But then it gets muddy.

The researchers included three groups, by level of medication - low, medium and high. And the high group members seemed to have had a higher stroke risk. Or did they?