Stroke

No monitoring necessary; don't use them before electrical cardioversion; and count them out for periprocedural use during AF ablation. Really?

Heart scans to ID stroke risk, insomnia reduces quality of life, air pollution may be a cause, women think of stroke as a man’s disease-see these and other developments in stroke science and patient care.

Stroke and TIA rates are down and fewer patients arrive by ambulance in national emergency department survey.

The FDA will require labels on prescription testosterone products that disclose a possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. A “black box” warning won’t be added.

Health expectations and standards of safety in this part of the world are clearly different from what most of us are used to. But it is my impression that “laying on of hands” offers encouragement and hope.

Patients with Afib whose CHA2DS2-VASc score is 1 have a lower risk for ischemic stroke than previously thought and are not likely to benefit from anticoagulation therapy.

There is room to improve evidence-based aspirin use for primary prevention of stroke and other cardiovascular risks. Details here.

Cancer may be an under-appreciated, but common risk factor for stroke, which is most common the first month after cancer diagnosis.

The risk for major bleeding and GI hemorrhage in patients taking dabigatran was greater than in those taking warfarin; warfarin, however, was associated with a greater risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

In analysis of this randomized controlled trial of apixaban vs warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, there was an increased risk of stroke and systemic embolism among patients taking amiodarone and warfarin.

New drugs that treat stubborn illness seen often in primary care lead this group of Top 5 Papers for 2014. Type 2 diabetes, cryptogenic stroke, and hep-C are key targets.

Results of a recent study suggest the presence or absence of CMBs may help refine risk prognostication in patients with AF.

The cost vs the benefit of community screening for disease is often hotly debated. A new study suggests that detection and treatment of asymptomatic AF may be worth that effort.

Hypertension and diabetes, hypertension and stroke/dementia, renal artery stenosis and hypertension in children, pulmonary arterial hypertension, portal hypertensive gastropathy, central retinal vein occlusion-a close look at some common hypertension-related conditions.

Results from the CRYSTAL-AF study find that nearly one-third of patients who experience cryptogenic stroke may have undetected atrial fibrillation.

Aerobic exercise not only improves cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with stroke but also may have a beneficial effect on neuroplasticity and improve motor recovery.

Patients who have blockages in the carotid arteries are at risk not only for stroke but possibly for cognitive impairment as well.

Mixed tocotrienols are effective in attenuating the progression of white matter lesions in humans, the results of a new study have shown.

All patients with stroke should have their blood pressure lowered to normal levels, a new study shows.

Some interesting take home-points for your practice from recent studies and surveys: learn the details in this 5 question quiz.

A gene variant strongly associated with development of type 2 diabetes mellitus appears to respond to a Mediterranean diet to prevent stroke.

Brain infarcts among crack cocaine users may be secondary to large cerebral artery vasospasm with secondary intravascular thrombosis (with or without distal embolization).

Nonadherence to antihypertensive drug therapy increased risk of stroke, hospitalization for stroke and stroke-related mortality.

Mid-life hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive decline. A 10 mm Hg rise in systolic pressure led to an intermediate cognitive decline in 7% of the cohort on follow-up.

Suicidal ideation among stroke survivors (7.8%) was higher than among those with a history of MI (6.2%), diabetes (5.2%), and cancer (4.1%).