Risk for ‘Silent Stroke’ after 60

A recent study published in the journal Neurology has found that people over age 60 are at risk for “silent strokes,” which are small strokes that cause no symptoms, but can still damage brain tissue. Australian researchers, led by study author Dr. Perminder Sachdev, also found that those with high blood pressure were especially at risk of experiencing this type of stroke. For the study, Sachdev, a neuropsychiatry professor at the University of New South Wales in Sidney, and his team, followed 477 people from age 60 to 64 for a period of four years. They found that of the group, 7.8 percent showed evidence of strokes that caused them no noticeable symptoms, with 1.6 percent having experienced a silent stroke by the conclusion of the study. These “silent strokes,” or silent lacunar infarctions, prevent blood from flowing through an artery that supplies inner areas of the brain with blood. Study participants with high blood pressure had a 60 percent higher chance of experiencing a silent stroke when compared with participants who had normal blood pressure. Researchers also found that those with white matter hyperintensities, which are areas of increased signal intensity in the brain, were close to 5 times more likely to experience a silent stroke than participants without this condition. Other risk factors for silent stroke include heart disease, diabetes, age and smoking.

Even though people who experience a silent stroke have no symptoms, it does put them at higher risk for later strokes. They may also experience a more rapid loss of mental skills than other people. According to the American Stroke Association, common warning signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden, severe headache with no known cause. If you or a loved one has been the victim of stroke malpractice in New York, call or e-mail the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. We have been serving clients with Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice, Nassau stroke malpractice and Suffolk stroke malpractice cases for more than 30 years.

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Injection Regenerates Heart Tissue after Heart Attack

In a recent study conducted on mice, researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have found that injecting a growth protein after a heart attack encouraged the regrowth of injured heart tissue and helped recover cardiac function. The protein, neuregulin 1 (NRG1), is vital for the normal development of the heart and nervous system. When a heart attack occurs, heart muscle can be permanently damaged or die when blood vessels are blocked and oxygen cannot reach the heart. Until now, doctors have been unsuccessful in finding a way to repair or help regrow injured heart tissue after a heart attack. The NRG1 has been able to restart the division and reproduction of cells in the heart, which usually stops after birth.

For the study, researchers led by Dr. Bernhard Kuhn and Kevin Bersell of Children’s Hospital Boston’s cardiology department did a daily injection of the protein for three months into mice who had suffered a heart attack. The experts found that the mice injected with NRG1 had increased heart regeneration and improved pumping compared with mice that were not given the injection. The mice that were given the injection also exhibited fewer common consequences that follow a heart attack. The study, which was published in Cell, shows progress in experts’ ability to regenerate heart tissue following heart attack or failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. The disease can cause heart attack and angina, which is chest pain that occurs when an insufficient amount of oxygen-rich blood reaches the heart. According to the American Heart Association, about 1,260,000 new and recurrent heart attacks occur year, with about 37 percent of people who experience a heart attack in a given year dying as a result. If you or a loved one has had a heart attack and have questions about the quality of the medical care received, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos P.C. answers. Our experienced attorneys have been helping clients in with Manhattan malpractice, Brooklyn malpractice, Bronx malpractice, Queens malpractice, Nassau malpractice and Suffolk malpractice cases. Together we will continue our fight against FRIVOLOUS and DECEPTIVE DEFENSES.

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Ways to Prevent Birth Defects Before and During Pregnancy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth defects affect about one in every 33 babies born in the U.S. each year and account for more then 20 percent of all infant deaths. The cause of most birth defects is unknown, however, some birth defects can be prevented by taking certain measures before and during pregnancy. Folic acid can help prevent brain and spine birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, when a woman gets enough of the vitamin before and during pregnancy. In order to do this, it is recommended that women who are pregnant and those who expect to become pregnant eat foods rich in folic acid, or foods enriched with the vitamin. Some cereals contain 100 percent of the daily value of folic acid, so eating a serving for breakfast can help get the recommended value. Aside from breads, pastas and cereals fortified with the vitamin, women can also get more folic acid in their diet by eating green leafy vegetables, oranges, orange juice and dried beans. They should also take a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

Women expecting to become pregnant should see their doctor before becoming pregnant. Pregnant women should have regular pre-natal visits with their doctor to make sure everything is going well with their pregnancy. To prevent birth defects such as fetal alcohol syndrome, it is extremely important for a woman to stop drinking when trying to become pregnant and when pregnant. According to the CDC, fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects.

If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail us today. Our experienced birth injury attorneys have been helping clients in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk for more than 25 years. Let us evaluate your case for free today. Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net