Sunday, July 18, 2010

Just one Drink Boosts Stroke Risk Within the First Hour

Just one drink at happy hour can increase the chances of having a stroke according to findings from a small study. Researchers interviewed patients who suffered from stroke finding the risk of stroke within the first hour of consuming alcohol increases by 2.3. percent.

The findings aren't entirely clear though. Scientists know that heavy alcohol consumption increases the chances of having a stroke, but light to moderate drinking has been associated with lower chances cardiovascular problems that can cause blood clots and ischemic stroke.

Among 390 patients interviewed for the study, 14 reported drinking alcohol within the hour of onset stroke symptoms, equating to double the risk compared to stroke victims who did not consume any form of alcoholic beverage.

Murray A. Mittleman, M.D., Dr.P.H., senior author of the Stroke Onset Study (SOS) and director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. says, "The impact of alcohol on your risk of ischemic stroke appears to depend on how much and how often you drink".

Dr. Mittleman adds,"The evidence on heavy drinking is consistent: Both in the long and short term it raises stroke risk. But we're finding it's more complicated with light to moderate drinking. It is possible that the transiently increased stroke risk from moderate alcohol consumption may be outweighed by the longer term health benefits."

The reason ischemic stroke can occur within one hour after consuming just one drink is because blood pressure elevates and blood becomes more prone to clot. Ischemic stroke differs from hemorrhagic stroke and occurs when a blood clot interferes with blood flow to the brain.
 
After an hour of consuming alcohol the chances of having a stroke declines, but more than doubles within the first hour. The findings also revealed that stroke risk after having even one drink - whether beer, wine or hard liquor - increases by 2.3 percent.
 
doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.580092


 
 
 

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Reduce Hot Flashes with Weight Loss


Shedding weight could treat hot flashes
Losing a mere 5 to 9 percent of body weight has been shown to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. New study results show women consuming fewer calories who lost weight also had fewer and less intense hot flashes. Read my story at Examiner.com


Fewer women choose mammogram screening for breast cancer
Fewer women are choosing to have mammograms - findings that trouble researchers who also say better technology is needed for breast cancer screening. Read more


Passive smoke exposure during pregnancy affects lifelong health of unborn babies
Unborn children are vulnerable to the effects of passive smoking. Newer findings show that pregnant women whose unborn babies are exposed to second hand smoke risk a lifetime of health problems. Read more
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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Everybody Deserves a Massage Week 2010

Everybody Deserves a Massage 16th Annual Event

July 18 to July 24 is Everybody deserves a massage week. This year Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) have extended an invitation to television media to receive a free massage that include ABC co-hosts on "The View" and NBC's TV talk show host "Morning Joe". Read the entire story at emaxhealth.com

Prepare for Childbirth with Massage

A massage technique in the last four or five weeks of pregnancy to train the lower genital tract for childbirth. During perineal massage a women kneads the tissue below the vagina to prepare the tissue to expand more easily during birth. Read the entire story

Massage Aids Muscle Recovery after Exercise

Scientists have determined that immediate cyclic compression of muscles after intense exercise reduced swelling and muscle damage in a study using animals. A 2008 study funded by the NIH and the Ohio State University Pomerene Chair in Family Medicine, determined that massage has benefits for musce recovery at a cellular level from the animal models. Read the rest at emaxhealth.com
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