Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Published : April 19, 2015 12:21 PM IST
Washington, April 19: Providing a ray of hope for heart patients, a new study has found that the removal of the clot causing a severe stroke, in combination with the standard medication, improves the restoration of blood flow to the brain and may result in better long-term outcomes. These findings are a game-changer for how we should treat certain types of stroke, said Demetrius Lopes from the Rush University's medical centre and co-author of the study. The standard treatment for ischemic stroke within the first three to four and a half hours of symptoms is intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA), a medication which dissolves the clot. (Read: Eight ways to keep stroke at bay)
But in around 20 percent of cases in which one of the major arteries is blocked, IV tPA alone may not be sufficient to dissolve the clot. The study randomly divided patients with severe ischemic strokes into two groups, one receiving IV tPA alone, and the other receiving combination therapy of IV tPA and thrombectomy. The patients who received IV tPA plus thrombectomy showed reduced disability across the entire range of the measurement. They had better cerebral blood flow rates. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. (Read: Could you be at risk of dying from a stroke?)
Here are some risk factors of stroke
1. Age: Aging is one of the major risk factors for stroke. The risk is almost doubled with every decade after the age of 55 years. So a person who s 80-years old is 30 times likely to suffer a stroke compared to a 50 year old.
2. Family history: If you have a family member who has suffered a stroke then your chances raise slightly. This is because stroke can also be caused by a genetic mutation that results in damage to the blood vessels. If you have inherited this gene mutation from your parents then your chances of suffering from stroke increase.
3. Personal history: If you have had a stroke earlier in your life, you chance of suffering another one increases by 10 times compared to a person of the same age and gender who has not suffered a stroke. The annual risk of a subsequent stroke in survivors is almost 5%.
4. Gender: The relationship between gender and the occurrence of stroke is slightly complicated. Some studies mention that women are at a higher risk of stroke while other say men are likely to get affected. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, men are more likely to suffer from stroke than women at a younger age and women are more likely to die of a stroke than men. Read more about 15 risk factors you should know
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
For more articles on stroke, visit our stroke section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.