 |
|
Study establishes link between air pollution, ischemic strokes
October 31, 2005BOSTON - The risk of ischemic stroke - which results when a blood clot travels to the brain - increases with a rise in particulate air pollution, according to a study in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. Led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the findings are described in the October 27, 2005 on-line rapid access issue of the journal.
The study, which examined the air quality on a total of 37,000 days in nine separate cities, found that risk of hospitalization for ischemic stroke was one percent higher on days with relatively high levels of air pollution, compared with low-air pollution days, according to lead author Gregory Wellenius, Sc.D., postdoctoral fellow in cardiology at BIDMC.
"Although these effects sound relatively small, given the large number of people exposed to air pollution and the large number of people at risk for stroke, from a public-health perspective the actual number of strokes [we're talking about] could be significant," says Wellenius. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting more than 700,000 individuals each year.
Previous work by Wellenius and coauthors Murray Mittleman, MD, DrPH, of BIDMC's Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit and Joel Schwartz, PhD, of HSPH had established a "consistent increased risk" for cardiac health problems associated with exposure to ambient air particles.
"Air pollution has been shown to trigger heart attacks and to aggravate the conditions of patients with congestive heart failure," says Mittleman, who is also Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "These new findings, demonstrating that incidence of clot-based strokes also increase, is in keeping with our earlier data showing a relationship between air pollution and heart and lung disorders."
(The study also looked at the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain, during the same "high pollution" days, notes Wellenius, but found no association between the two.)
The air pollution in question - particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometer in diameter - includes particles from car and truck exhaust, power plants and refineries. The measurements were provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from nine U.S. cities including Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, New Haven, Conn., Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
The authors analyzed hospital admissions among Medicare patients who represented an average age of 79. Seventy-five percent of the patients were white and 61 percent were female. Their findings showed that during the course of their study, there were 155,503 hospital admissions for ischemic stroke. The final analysis demonstrated a 1.03 percent rise in ischemic stroke on the days with the highest pollution measures.
"We don't know exactly what mechanisms are involved that trigger these cardiac events," says Wellenius. "However, we do know that particulates in the air promote inflammation, which is a significant risk factor for cardiac events; that exposure to particulates can lead to changes in heart rate and blood pressure; and that pollution can cause changes in coaguable states [blood clotting abilities]."
The authors say that future research will focus on finding out which pollutants are most toxic, and which patients are at greatest risk for health problems stemming from air pollution.
"Taken together with previous work, these latest results support the idea that reducing exposure to particulate matter may reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks," they conclude.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Previous work by Wellenius and coauthors Murray Mittleman, MD, DrPH, of BIDMC's Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit and Joel Schwartz, PhD, of HSPH had established a "consistent increased risk" for cardiac health problems associated with exposure to ambient air particles.
"Air pollution has been shown to trigger heart attacks and to aggravate the conditions of patients with congestive heart failure," says Mittleman, who is also Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "These new findings, demonstrating that incidence of clot-based strokes also increase, is in keeping with our earlier data showing a relationship between air pollution and heart and lung disorders."
(The study also looked at the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain, during the same "high pollution" days, notes Wellenius, but found no association between the two.)
The air pollution in question - particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometer in diameter - includes particles from car and truck exhaust, power plants and refineries. The measurements were provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from nine U.S. cities including Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, New Haven, Conn., Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
The authors analyzed hospital admissions among Medicare patients who represented an average age of 79. Seventy-five percent of the patients were white and 61 percent were female. Their findings showed that during the course of their study, there were 155,503 hospital admissions for ischemic stroke. The final analysis demonstrated a 1.03 percent rise in ischemic stroke on the days with the highest pollution measures.
"We don't know exactly what mechanisms are involved that trigger these cardiac events," says Wellenius. "However, we do know that particulates in the air promote inflammation, which is a significant risk factor for cardiac events; that exposure to particulates can lead to changes in heart rate and blood pressure; and that pollution can cause changes in coaguable states [blood clotting abilities]."
The authors say that future research will focus on finding out which pollutants are most toxic, and which patients are at greatest risk for health problems stemming from air pollution.
"Taken together with previous work, these latest results support the idea that reducing exposure to particulate matter may reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks," they conclude.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Ischemic Stroke Current Events and Ischemic Stroke News RSSNovel stroke treatment passes safety stage of UCI-led clinical trial
A clinical research trial of a new treatment to restore brain cells damaged by stroke has passed an important safety stage, according to the UC Irvine neurologist who led the effort.
Half of Americans live more than an hour away from lifesaving stroke care
When stroke strikes, choking off blood supply to the brain, every minute counts: Nearly 2 million neurons die each minute a stroke is left untreated, making it a race to recognize symptoms so that lifesaving "clot-busting" drugs can be administered.
Total fat, trans fat linked to higher incidence of ischemic stroke
Post-menopausal women who reported consuming the most daily dietary fat had a 40 percent higher incidence of clot-caused strokes compared to women who ate the least amount, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.
Children can have recurrent strokes
Children can have strokes, and the strokes can recur, usually within a month, according to pediatric researchers. Unfortunately, the strokes often go unrecognized the first time, and the child does not receive treatment before the recurrence.
Platelet function tests may provide modest benefit in predicting cardiac outcomes
An analysis of six tests that are used to measure platelet function and help gauge the effectiveness of antiplatelet drugs for patients undergoing a cardiac procedure such as a coronary stent implantation found that only three of the tests were associated with a modest ability to predict outcomes such as heart attack or death.
Degree of obesity raises risk of stroke, regardless of gender, race
The higher a person's degree of obesity, the higher their risk of stroke - regardless of race, gender and how obesity is measured, according to a new study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
New Web tool may help predict risk of second stroke
Scientists have developed a new web-based tool that may better predict whether a person will suffer a second stroke within 90 days of a first stroke, according to research published in the December 16, 2009, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Are stroke survivors taking their medicine?
People who have had an ischemic stroke are at higher lifetime risk for another stroke, but several types of medication can reduce that risk. One of the simplest regimens involves antithrombotic medications, otherwise known as blood thinners, of which the most common is aspirin.
Research: Migraine and cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Migraine with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Smoking gun: just 1 cigarette has harmful effect on the arteries of young healthy adults
Even one cigarette has serious adverse effects on young adults, according to research presented by Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
More Ischemic Stroke Current Events and Ischemic Stroke News Articles
 |
Management of Ischemic Stroke by Stanley N. Cohen M.D. (Author) This comprehensive text gives practical management guidelines to those managing the patient with stroke. The first part of the book reviews emergency management of the stroke patient, subacute management in the ICU, stroke rehabilitation, management in the first two months post-stroke including discussion of risk management, and chronic stroke problems including post-stroke pain, depression, aphasia, sexual relationships, and physical activities. The second part of the book addresses the specific causes of stroke and underlying pathophysiology. Common and uncommon causes are reviewed. Together, the coverage forms an unparalleled guide that tells you how to treat stroke patients effectively. |
 |
Women, Stroke and the Red Dress: Cerebrovascular Disease in Women In most age groups, more men than women will have a stroke in a given year. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women. At all ages, more women than men die of stroke. This talk will discuss the reasons for these disparities throughout a women's lifetime. |
 |
Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Evidence-based Approach by David M. Greer (Editor) This focused book deals clearly and concisely with the principles of management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It emphasizes the published and verifiable evidence in support of these principles, and highlights the areas of limited evidence. Best evidence is provided for the current standard treatment of acute ischemic stroke, including intravenous chemical thrombolysis, intra-arterial approaches, blood pressure management, and anti-thrombotic therapy. More modern techniques are also described, such as the use of mechanical devices to evacuate a thrombus, induced hypertension, hyper-oxygenation (hyperoxia), and neuroprotective or neuroregeneration agents. Hallmark features include: Focused on acute ischemic stroke, the most rapidly growing area of stroke... |
 |
Preventing Ischemic Events: Advances in Antiplatelet Therapy (NCME Video 733) Also With: Network For Continuing Medical Education (Primary Contributor), Alan T. Hirsch (Primary Contributor), Eric C. Ras (Primary Contributor), Eric J. Topol (Primary Contributor) Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that contributes to the death of 500,000 Americans by myocadial infarction and 150,000 Americans by stroke each year. In addition, peripheral arterial disease affects over 7 million Americans, two thirds of whom are undiagnosed. The modification of medical and lifestyle risk factors (e.g. diet, exercise, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes) and the daily administration of aspirin have been shown to save lives. However, aspirin is a relatively weak antiplatelet agent in that it interferes with one of the less significant intracellular processes that cause platelets to bind together. In this video, Drs. Hirsch, Raps, and Topol explore the role of new antiplatelet therapies in myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Insights into... |
 |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Ischemic Stroke (Medical Radiology / Diagnostic Imaging) by Rüdiger Kummer (Editor), Tobias Back (Editor), K. Sartor (Editor) The imaging of stroke has undergone significant changes owing to the rapid progress in imaging technology. This volume, comprising three parts, is designed to provide a comprehensive summary of the current role of MR imaging in patients with ischemic stroke. The first part outlines the clinical presentations of stroke and discusses the diagnostic efficacy and therapeutic impact of MR imaging. The second and third parts form the core of the volume, and are based on a novel approach in that the topic is presented from two very different viewpoints. Part 2 provides a detailed presentation of the distinguishing features of stroke from the radiologist's perspective. By contrast, part 3 addresses the needs of the clinician, documenting specific stroke syndromes and their correlates on MR... |
 |
Prevention and Treatment of Ischemic Stroke: Blue Books of Practical Neurology Series (Blue Books of Neurology) by Scott Eric Kasner MD (Author), Philip B. Gorelick MD MPH (Author) Provides truly practical evidence and advice to provide to the multitude of clinicians who care for patients with stroke. It is the most up to date and authoritative clinical text on both prevention (includes Epidemiology) and management (including critical care) of ischemic stroke patients (85% of strokes are ischemic). Evidence-based approach will cover treatment and prevention options for both primary and secondary ischemic stroke. |
 |
Ischemic Stroke: An Atlas of Investigation and Treatment (Atlases of Investigation and Management) by Isaac E., M.D. Silverman (Author), Marilyn M., M.D. Rymer (Author), Louis R. Caplan (Foreword), Gary R. Spiegel (Foreword), Robert E. Schmidt (Foreword) In the past three decades, the diagnosis and treatment of stroke has changed at a phenomenal rate since the first use of CT scans and early studies using thrombolytic agents. In the last decade, the stroke specialist has seen the introduction of new therapies versus carotid endarterectomy; mechanical embolectomy and other catheter-delivered agents and devices; novel thrombolytic agents; drugs to limit hematoma expansion; antithrombotic agents for secondary stroke prevention and other neuroprotective strategies.Advanced techniques such as the treatment of aneurysms by neurosurgical clipping versus endovascular coiling, and neurosurgery for intracerebral hemorrhage and the malignant MCA stroke syndrome have been studied, offering a promising look into the future. It must not be forgotten... |
 |
Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke: Diagnosis, Investigation and Management (Cambridge Medicine) by Sarah T. Pendlebury (Author), Matthew F. Giles (Author), Peter M. Rothwell (Author) Accurate diagnosis, appropriate investigation, reliable risk stratification, and urgent treatment are essential after TIA and minor stroke and can reduce the risk of stroke recurrence by up to 80%. This book reviews recent developments in each of these areas. To reflect the fact that TIAs and minor strokes are simply one end of the clinical spectrum of cerebrovascular disease, the book also covers the management of major stroke, and long-term outcomes - such as cognitive impairment - which can complicate all types of cerebrovascular events. The book is therefore a comprehensive primer in stroke medicine. Written by a leading team of researchers in the field, this book will be of interest to neurologists, stroke physicians, and all others with an interest in stroke. |
 |
Acute Ischemic Stroke: Imaging and Intervention by R.G. Gonzalez (Author), J.A. Hirsch (Author), W.J. Koroshetz (Author), M.H. Lev (Author), P. Schaefer (Author) This timely book provides basic, practical and up-to-date information on how to use imaging to diagnose and treat patients with acute ischemic stroke. Written by physicians from the Massachusetts General Hospital and faculty from the Harvard Medical School, the book distills years of experience in the day-to-day management of acute stroke patients, as well as leading-edge basic and clinical research, into a practical guide. With the growing awareness that modern CT and MR imaging can meaningfully improve the outcome of the acute stroke patient, this book provides the practical information to advance the capacities of providers in delivering the most advanced care for this disease. |
|
Brain attack: progress is slow in finding better ischemic-stroke therapies.: An article from: Science News by Andreas von Bubnoff (Author) This digital document is an article from Science News, published by Thomson Gale on July 14, 2007. The length of the article is 2506 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Brain attack: progress is slow in finding better ischemic-stroke therapies. Author: Andreas von Bubnoff Publication: Science News (Magazine/Journal) Date: July 14, 2007 Publisher: Thomson Gale Volume: 172 Issue: 2 Page: 26(3) Distributed by Thomson... |
| © 2010 BrightSurf.com |