REMINDER The FDA has issued a mandatory recall of all over-the-counter medications containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). It was an ingredient in diet aids and many cold medications, and has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) in women aged 18-49. Men may also be at risk. Check your medicine cabinet for any old medications containing PPA and dispose of them. Check the labels of any diet aids or cold medications you might purchase to be sure there is no PPA in them—be sure the recall was complete. For further information, please check this FDA site: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/ These medications contain (or did contain) Phenylpropanolamine: Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange) Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder BC Sinus Cold Powder Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules Contac 12 Hour Caplets Coricidin D Cold, F lu & Sinus Dexatrim Caffeine Free Dexatrim Extended Duration Dexatrim Gelcaps Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir Dimetapp Elixir Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets Dimetapp 12 Hour Extendtabs Tablets Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops Permathene Mega-16 Robitussin CF Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion Triaminic DM Cough Relief Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough Good News! (In Moderation) A bulletin from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts (www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com) reports that cocoa-rich dark chocolate may be as good at lowering blood pressure as some medications. Studies reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who ate 50-100 g of dark chocolate a day for two weeks had an average blood pressure decrease of 5/3 mm Hg. The downside? Chocolate is high in calories, and too much of a good thing could cause weight gain that might counteract benefits. A second study showed that those eating 6 grams daily (0.25 oz) had nearly the same benefits as the 50-100 g group--with only 30 calories. Listening to Music May Improve Stroke Recovery Researchers in Finland have found that stroke patients who listen to music for a couple of hours a day had significantly enhanced recoveries. Their findings were reported in the medical journal, Brain. The research team started working with survivors as soon as possible after hospitalization. "We thought that it was important to start listening during the acute post-stroke stage, as the brain can undergo dramatic changes during the first weeks and months of recovery, and we know these changes can be enhanced by stimulation from the environment," said Teppo Särkämö, the study's lead author. Three months after stroke, verbal memory had improved by 60 percent in music listeners, by 18 percent in audio book listeners, and by 29 percent in non-listeners. Further, focused attention, the ability to control and perform mental operations and resolve conflict among responses improved measurably for the music group. No improvement was seen among the study's non-listening participants. Not surprisingly, the music group also experienced less confusion and depression than non-listeners. Stroke Studies Announced by NIH The National Institutes of Health has announced that studies for stroke patients are currently being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. The studies' purpose includes exploring ways to improve movement, regain function in partially paralyzed limbs, and to improve sense of touch. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, and must have had a single stroke (on one side of the brain) at least 3 months prior to enrollment. You may not quality if you have had multiple strokes, have a serious illness other than stroke, or if you are pregnant. There is no charge for study-related tests, and compensation for time and inconvenience is provided for most studies. Transportation assistance may be available. Se habla espanol. For more information, call: 1-800-411-1222 (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) Too Much Sleep Tied to Stroke Risk for Postmenopausal Women Reuters News reported 7/17/08 that women 50-79 years old getting nine hours of sleep per night have been shown to have a 60 to 70 percent higher risk of stroke compared to women getting seven hours of sleep nightly. The study, from 40 locations around the U.S., ran from 1994 to 2005, and was reported in the American Heart Association journal Stroke. "Whether it's because of sleep apnea or because of restless sleep or because of any number of things, we don't know," Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, one of the researchers, said. It is also unclear whether the findings would apply to men and younger women. "The study definitely does not say that for women who sleep longer, if they decrease their hours of sleep they'll be better off," Wassertheil-Smoller added, noting that there are known bad physiological effects from sleep deprivation that might play a role. For details, link to: http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/site/R?i=R9VhA2Mast0EsoaafrdWJg Podcast on “Stroke in Women” Airing on June 3, 2008 On Whirlpool Home Appliances American Family Podcasts The Goddess Fund is excited to announce that our organization will be featured on a podcast at www.whirlpool.com/family with Gigi Lubin on June 3, 2008, with The Goddess Fund’s Founder and CEO, Lynn B. Goddess, and Medical Advisory Board member and preeminent stroke neurologist Dr. Steven J. Kittner discussing “Stroke in Women”. The podcast is a conversation about women and stroke. It seeks to raise awareness for stroke symptoms in women. Some of the topics that are going to be discussed on this podcast are; the history and mission of The Goddess Fund, the groups of women mostly susceptible to a stroke, modifiable risk factors, and preventative measures which could be taken.. Please log onto www.whirlpool.com/family on Tuesday, May 27th to see the preview. You can listen to this Podcast via iTunes or www.whirlpool.com/family on June 3rd by clicking on the topic "Stroke in Women." We hope that this wonderful podcast reaches as many people as possible and bring clarification to all women regarding this severe medical issue. The City of Chicago Proclaims June 9, 2008 as The Goddess Fund For Stroke Research in Women Day Richard M. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago, proclaimed June 9, 2008 to be “The Goddess Fund For Stroke Research In Women Day”. This wonderful proclamation was made possible because of the diligent work of Karen Butler our Trustee and Chair of Chicago Friends of The Goddess Fund and her committee. Chicago Friends Hold Fifth Annual Fundraiser On June 9th, the Chicago Friends of the Goddess Fund will host “An Evening for Sea Goddesses” its 5th Annual Fundraiser. The event will be held at the Chicago Yacht Club and the evening will have cocktails, dinner and dancing followed by a boat ride up the Chicago River. Remarks will be made by Dr. Philip Gorelick, a member of The Goddess Fund national Medical Advisory Board. The Chicago Friends of The Goddess Fund’s mission is to raise money for research and education about stroke in women in the Chicago region. The event will begin at 6:00pm and tickets are $150 and $300 per person. The River Cruise will begin at 9:00pm-11:00pm only 90 spaces are available, on a first reply, first served response. Cocktail or Business attire is permissible. Please note there will be limited parking available. For any additional questions regarding the event or ticketing information please contact Erin Tower at erin@thegoddessfund.org. Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board Members Quoted In MSNBC.com Article about Strokes and Women February 2008 – The Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board members, Dr. Phillip Gorelick, Neurology Chief at the University of Illinois in Chicago and Dr. Ralph Sacco, member of and Neurology Chief at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, were quoted in a feature article about stroke which ran on the MSNBC.com website, Wednesday, February 20, 2008. The article, “Strokes among Middle Aged Women Triple”, states that the increase of stroke in women is due to the obesity epidemic. Middle-age women waistlines increased almost 2 inches more than a decade earlier. Therefore, researchers say, the bulge of the waistline correlates with the increase in strokes. Also, women’s body mass index (used to measure obesity) increased from 27 in a earlier Federal Health Survey during (1988-1994) to 29 in the most recent Federal Health Survey from (1999-2004). This new research suggests that the written text on stroke related incidences needs to be updated because women may now be more at risk of a stroke then middle age men. Two other studies have found that hospital stroke patients that were admitted at night or weekends were most likely to die.. However, doctors state that no one should wait to receive treatment because treatment can only be in the first few hours after symptoms appear. To read the articles in their entirety please use the following link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23260665/from/ET/ ASA: Cats May Protect Owners Against Cardiovascular Death February 2008 – Medpage Today published information gathered by researcher Dr. Adnan Qureshi, M.D., of the Minnesota Stroke Institute in Minneapolis. The preliminary findings in this research states, individuals have a lower risk from cardiovascular disease, including stroke if they own cats. The researchers observed that people with cats reduce a risk for death. Presently, there was no evidence of a considerable difference between people who owned dogs or other pets. Dr. Qureshi and his colleagues used records of the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES II) showing that 4,435 patients between the ages of 35-70 were asymptomatic for coronary cardiovascular disease at baseline; however 55% of those individuals were cat owners. There is also a chance that cats reduce stress and anxiety levels more than dogs and other pets. The researchers hope that cat ownership might be considered a cost-effective intervention in reducing heart attacks and probably other forms of cardiovascular disease such as stroke for high-risk individuals, if the findings can be confirmed. . Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASAMeeting/dh/8455 Daytime Dozing 'Stroke Warning' February 2008 – BBC News published information gathered by lead researcher Dr. Bernadette Boden-Albala Assistant Professor of Neurology at Columbia University. These findings were announced last week during The International Stroke Conference. The article stated regular unintentional daytime dozing may be an early warning sign of stroke in elderly people. This information was obtained by doing a study on 2,000 people asking “how often they doze off in different situations?” It appeared that the risk of stroke for people who reported “some dozing” compared to those with no dozing was 2.6 times greater. It was 4.5 times greater for those that reported “significant dozing”. Daytime sleepiness is a sign of sleep apnoea (short periods when breathing stops during sleep) at night and is also an increased risk factor for stroke. The research concluded that it is worth evaluating patients for sleep problems and also encourages that if a person has sleep apnoea they should have a sleep apnoea screening. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7257270.stm The Goddess Fund Readies for Health Protection Month The Goddess Fund will be participating in a Community Health Fair on Sunday, March 9, 2008, from 9:00am - 1:00pm at Pathways Women’s Health at 1350 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, NY in the spirit of Heath Protection Month. The list events include the following: 9:00am - 1:00pm Screenings: Free Total Cholesterol Testing HDL Cholesterol and Glucose Testing Blood Pressure Screening An opportunity to talk individually with physicians 10:00am - 12:00pm Lectures: “Prevent The Event: Heart Attack” Guy Mintz, M.D., FACP, FACC-Associate Professor of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine “CT Angiography of Coronary Arteries: Non-Invasive Diagnostic Procedure of Coronary Disease” Bilha Fish, M.D.-Manhasset Diagnostic Imaging/Director, Pathways Women’s Health “Prevention, Diagnosis Treatment of Stroke” Paul Wright, M.D-Director of Stroke Center, St. Francis Hospital “Stress Effects on the Heart & Heart Disease” Gary V. Paluba, Ph.D-Specialist in Stress Management & Individuals with Heat Disease Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited; Register now by calling: 516-365-2784. Please join us! The Goddess Fund Welcomes New Board Member January 2008 – The Goddess Fund welcomes Randolph S. Marshall, MS, MD as one of our newest Medical Advisory Board members. We would like to thank him for joining us in our mission in research and raising awareness of the risks and realities of stroke in women. Dr. Marshall is Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center and Acting Director of the Stroke Division in the Department of Neurology. Dr. Marshall obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard College in 1982 and his medical degree from the University of California in 1988, including an MD degree from UC San Francisco and a Master's degree in sociolinguistics from UC Berkeley. He completed his neurology residency in 1992 at Columbia and subsequently trained as a clinical and research fellow in cerebrovascular diseases at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. His clinical work focuses on the treatment and prevention of stroke and related cerebrovascular disorders. He has been continuously funded from the NIH with a research program that investigates the hemodynamic and physiological mechanisms of acute stroke and stroke recovery, with emphasis on the functional neuroimaging correlates of brain plasticity and recovery after injury. He has also been involved in restorative treatment modalities after brain injury. Current NIH grants include a Program Project (SPOTRIAS) grant from NINDS to advance treatment and diagnosis of acute stroke. He is the Principal Investigator of one of the SPOTRIAS projects, a functional MRI study in acute stroke patients to identify patterns of brain activity that predict subsequent recovery of function, as well as the Principal Investigator of a multi-center clinical trial to assess the effects of extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery on cognition in patients with cerebral blood flow impairment from carotid artery occlusion. He sits on the New York City Stroke Directors Committee and is a member of the New York State Department of Health Stroke Advisory Council. Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board Member Quoted In NY Times Feature Article About Stroke May 2007 – Dr. Ralph Sacco, member of The Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board and professor and chair of neurology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami , was heavily quoted in a feature article about stroke which ran in The NY Times Monday, May 28th. The article, “ Lost Chances for Survival, Before and After Stroke ”, was one of three articles highlighting the problems that lead to misdiagnosis and inadequacies in stroke care. Amongst other problems in stroke care, the article focused on the minute number of eligible stroke patients who receive tPA and the monetary problems hospitals face in establishing stroke centers and providing adequate stroke care. Although stroke is the third-leading cause of death in this country, only 322 of this nation's 4,280 accredited hospitals are certified and willing to treat stroke patients aggressively. When it comes to treating strokes more assertively, many hospitals say they cannot afford to staff their emergency rooms with neurologists and cannot meet the expense of new technology, such as MRI scanners, which are the most accurate way to diagnose stroke. It is in this environment that emergency room doctors are left to diagnose stroke on their own. Without proper consultations ER doctors are hesitant to administer tPA, which has been proven to save lives and prevent brain damage in stroke victims. Although tPA could help half of all stroke patients, only 3 percent to 4 percent currently receive the drug. The online article version also featured a video clip showing how to determine a patient's eligibility for tPA, how stroke occurs, and how you can reduce your risks for stroke. To view the video please use the following link: http://video.on.nytimes.com/index.jsp?fr_story=1597c973a409a01c13d05376ef6312ad307251c1 To read the articles in their entirety please use the following link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/28/health/28stroke.html?ex=1181188800&en=b8ca722fe466f3 34&ei=5070 National Institute of Health Study Shows an Increase in Stroke with Hormone Therapy May 2007 – Last month the NIH published information gathered from hormone therapy trials that confirmed that hormone therapy for both pre and post menopausal women increased the risk of stroke. The study was conducted under the premise that hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease for post menopausal women. However, the trials conducted showed that there was no overall reduction in coronary heart disease for women who underwent hormone therapy, but there were marked increases in stroke and blood clots for the women participating in these trials. Source: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/nhlbi-03.htm Researchers Are Looking At The Link Between Migraine And Stroke May 2007 – Goddess Scholar Dr. Cheryl Bushnell was quoted in Time Magazine regarding research she has been conducting on the links between migraine, pregnancy, and stroke. Dr. Bushnell was part of a research team at Duke University that followed 17 million pregnant women. The study found that the pregnant women who suffered migraines were 19 times more likely to have a stroke. The results of this study, which were presented last week at an annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology showed a clear link between migraine and vascular conditions such as stroke, and suggest that the link is especially marked for pregnant women who also suffer from preeclampsia. Source: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1618409,00.html Goddess Fund Medical Advisory Board Member Named Chair of Neurology, University of Miami Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., M.S., FAAN FAHA, has been named Miller Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. This April, Dr. Sacco will be leaving Columbia University where he has served as Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, Director of the Stroke and Critical Care Division, and Associate Chair of Neurology at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the New York Presbyterian Hospital. In regards to his recent promotion and relocation, Dr. Pascal Goldschmidt, Dean of the Miller School of Medicine at theUniversity of Miami claims “We are extremely excited, not only for our institution, but for everyone who lives in South Florida, to have someone of Dr. Sacco's caliber.” To read more about Dr. Sacco's transition to the University of Miami please click the following link: http://www.med.miami.edu/news/view.asp?id=719. Goddess Fund Scholar Featured at The International Stroke Conference Update: In the three days since the original posting of this Breaking News story, Dr. Kleindorfer's Beauty Shop Project has been picked up by over 250 media outlets including: ABC News, CNBC, CNN, Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, BBC World News, and NPR. Please use the following link to view the video news release: http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3045114. February 2007 – Dr. Dawn Kleindorfer, Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati and 2004 Goddess Fund Scholar will have her widely acclaimed Beauty Shop Project presented as an abstract at the International Stroke Conference this month. Dr. Kleindorfer received a two-year grant from The Goddess Fund for her Beauty Shop Project, which focused on educating African American women about their increased risk of stroke. The Beauty Shop Project is a community based approach to raise stroke awareness among African American women with beauticians educating their clients about how to properly identify the signs and risk factors associated with stroke. Using Dr. Kleindorfer's FAST mnemonic beauticians taught their clients to look for signs of stroke in the Face, Arms, and Speech, and that once they identified these signs it was time to call 911. The Beauty Shop Project, which was conducted in Cincinnati, Ohio and Atlanta, Georgia, has also received enthusiastic applause from the American Heart Association, which featured Dr. Kleindorfer and her project in a video press release expected to be broadcast via satellite later this month. To view a clip of The Beauty Shop Project in action, click on the following link: http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/25/114086.htm. "Pricking Fingers" Advice Could Delay Treatment for Stroke November 21, 2006 – Duke University's Dr. Larry B. Goldstein, a member of The Goddess Fund's Medical Advisory Board, was quoted in The New York Times' Science section debunking a chain e-mail suggesting a first aid remedy for stroke. The e-mail advised sitting a stroke victim upright and pricking his or her fingers to revive consciousness. On the contrary, Dr. Goldstein advised, keeping a stroke victim prone is the best course of action to prevent dangerous fluctuation in blood pressure. Furthermore, care should be taken not to engage in practices that will delay access to trained emergency medical care. Instead, stroke victims should be transported to the emergency room as quickly as possible to prevent neurological damage. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/health/21real.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin New York-Presbyterian’s Columbia Stroke Center Is Top Local Pick November 2006 – The stroke center at New York-Presbyterian's Columbia facility, headed by Dr. Ralph Sacco of The Goddess Fund's Medical Advisory Board, has earned recognition from the New York Magazine as the top hospital facility for stroke in the New York metro area. Columbia's stroke center excels in research and doctor training, while also seeing more stroke patients annually than any other facility in New York. "It's not just the best in New York City," says Dr. William Powers, a professor of neurology, neurological surgery, and radiology at Washington University. "It's one of the best in the country." Source: http://nymag.com/health/besthospitals/24095/index2.html New Study Shows Promise on Treating Brain Injury with Hormone October 2006 – A new study from Emory University shows that progesterone holds potential as a new therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Findings published this month in The Annals of Emergency Medicine show that TBI sufferers treated with progesterone saw their survival rates double in this first-of-its-kind clinical trial. Commonly known as a female "sex hormone," progesterone is a neurosteroid produced in the brains of both males and females and is critical for the normal development of neurons. According to the study, progesterone "exerts protective effects on damaged brain tissue" and when used medically can significantly reduce swelling in the brain, a major cause of death and disability in TBI as well as in stroke. These findings and other ongoing research at Emory into the applications of progesterone may help lead to new emergency treatments for stroke, according to Dr. Donald Stein, Director of the Emergency Medicine Brain Research Laboratory at Emory and a member of The Goddess Fund's Medical Advisory Board. The results so far, he said, are very promising: "We think the pre-clinical animal research we and others are doing is showing that progesterone and its metabolites may play a role in reducing the detriments of stroke. We've been looking at sex differences in the outcomes and it's showing and equal effect in women and men." Click here to see an ABC News interview of Dr. Stein discussing research into progesterone therapy for TBI and stroke. (http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2527110) Source: http://www.whsc.emory.edu/press_releases2.cfm?announcement_id_seq=7840 Queens College Annual Spring Health Fair May 2006 – On Wednesday, May 3rd, The Goddess Fund participated in the Queens College Annual Spring Health Fair. The event was coordinated by the College's Health Service Center and held in their Student Union. It provided an excellent opportunity to supply information regarding stroke in women to students and faculty as well as others affiliated with the College. Nassau Women Physicians’ Foundation Benefit Honors Dr. Ralph L. Sacco & Dr. Tatjana Rundek April 2006 – On Saturday, April 29th, The Nassau Women Physicians' Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Bilha Fish, held a fundraising event benefiting Stroke Research in Women. Guests of honor were Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, a member of The Goddess Fund's Medical Advisory Board, and Dr. Tatjana Rundek, Goddess Scholar. The highly attended event took place at The George Washington Manor in Roslyn, NY, and included a performance from renowned pianist and composer Cristiana Pegoraro. Monies raised from the event will go to The Goddess Fund, earmarked for research grants. Dr. Lawrence M. Brass, Second Medical Advisory Board Chairman and Member Since Inception March 2006 – Dr. Lawrence M. Brass, an internationally-recognized neurologist who devoted his professional life to improving care and outcomes of patients with stroke, died on March 8, 2006, at the age of 49 years. Dr. Brass, a Professor of Neurology at Yale University School of Medicine, was best known for his leadership in advancing knowledge and policy in the field of stroke care. Although a non-smoker, he was stricken with lung cancer last summer and succumbed at his home in Woodbridge, CT. Dr. Brass was known among his colleagues as a magnanimous ambassador for stroke medicine. His colorful personality and clever mind attracted young persons to his field and won him students and collaborators from disciplines across the spectrum of the field of medicine. Many of the attributes that enabled Dr. Brass to bring people together for research also made him a successful mentor and teacher. Since 1987, Dr. Brass supervised 15 post-doctoral fellows, successfully mentored three junior faculty members with career development awards (including Goddess scholar, Judith Lichtman), supervised faculty members in their research, and supervised numerous students on theses required for medical school graduation at Yale. Dr. Brass received his undergraduate degree in mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania before attending Tufts Medical School. He went on to an internship at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts before his residency and chief residency in neurology and a stroke fellowship (under J.P. Mohr) at the Neurological Institute of New York (Columbia University). In 1987, he was recruited to Yale University to establish a stroke service. In recognition of his accomplishments in improving stroke care at Yale and for his achievements in education and clinical research, Dr. Brass was promoted early to Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology and Public Health in 1996. At the time of his death, he was Chief of Neurology at the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center and Co-Director of the Yale Cerebrovascular Center. A generous collaborator who instinctively put science and the careers of his mentors and colleagues ahead of his own interests, Dr. Brass embodied the highest values of his profession. Chicago Friends of The Goddess Fund Sponsors Stroke in Women Symposium March 2006 – On March 18th, the Chicago Friends of The Goddess Fund sponsored a Stroke in Women Symposium at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. This symposium for medical professionals addressed the latest research on stroke in women. It was co-chaired by Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Philip Gorelick, Head of Neurology at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), and by Dr. Elliot Roth, Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). Keynote speaker Dr. Cheryl Bushnell, of the Duke Center for Cerebrovascular Disease at Duke University Medical Center, spoke on the need for "A National Health Agenda on Stroke in Women," an area in which The Goddess Fund has been most active. Dr. Bushnell also delivered a presentation on "Risk Factors for Stroke in Women Over Age 45." Dr. Patricia Hurn, Medical Advisory Board member and Professor and Vice Chairman for Research, Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, also spoke on "Controversies in Hormone Replacement Therapy: Does It Increase or Decrease Stroke Risk or Brain Damage in Stroke?" Other featured participants included: • Dr. Richard L. Harvey, Director of the Stroke Rehabilitation Center at RIC, who spoke on Rehabilitation after Stroke; • Dr. Yevgenya Kaydanova, Department of Neurology at UIC, who presented the Risk of Post-Stroke Epilepsy in Women; • Dr. Laura Pedelty, Department of Neurology at UIC, who spoke on Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Women; and • Susan Scanlon Spoerli, MS, OTR/L, Education Program Manger at RIC Academy, who addressed Childcare Issues for Women with Stroke. New Gender and Stroke Research in Michigan May 2005 – A new study at Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor will attempt to quantify gender differences relating to stroke symptoms and outcomes. More and more research shows that women often exhibit different stroke symptoms, "they are more likely to experience limb pain or a decreasing sense of consciousness than the classic sudden numbness on one side of the body." This as well as women‚s perception of pain and the latter onset of stroke in women may explain why women often take longer to get to the emergency room and why once there doctors are slower to diagnose and treat them. Researchers hope their investigation will lead to improved communication and interaction among stroke sufferers, their primary physicians and emergency responders. Source: American Medical News: Strokes Different in Men vs. Women, http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/05/23/hlsa0523.htmdy Women Not Given Same Tests for Stroke April 2005 – New research points to differences in the implementation of tests to diagnose stroke and determine treatment as one possible reason that women have worse stroke outcomes than men. Although men are more likely to suffer a stroke, women are more likely to die and suffer more severe disability from strokes. This study conducted in Texas correlated ischemic stroke survivors‚ gender with four diagnostic tests. They found an implementation gap between men and women for two diagnostic tests, carotid ultrasound and echocardiography. Women were 10% less likely to receive these key tests than men. Source: Medical News Today, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/newssearch.php?newsid=22932 Low-Dose Birth Control Pills and Stroke Risk The Archives of Internal Medicine published a review by Chan et al. that critically examined studies linking birth control pills and stroke over the past thirty years. The researchers concluded that, "the association [between low dose oral contraceptives and stroke] is tenuous at best and perhaps nonexistent, citing flaws in research methodology and control groups." They assert that future research should consider the restrictions of these studies and attempt to minimize biases. Sources: Risk of Stroke in Women exposed to Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives: A Critical Evaluation of the Evidence. Chan et al. April 2004. Archives of Internal Medicine, http://archinte.ama-assn.org. Some Migraines May Reveal Stroke Risk February 2005 – Researchers recently reported that women who experience migraines with vision loss were at a 70% greater risk for stroke than women who do not experience migraines. In a study addressing how migraine aura types correspond to stroke incidence, researchers found that migraines accompanied by vision loss increase the risk of stroke by 70%, while women migraine sufferers who see spots or lines have a 25% increase in stroke risk, and those without visual symptoms have no increased risk. Researchers urge women who suffer transient vision loss as a new migraine symptom to seek medical attention in order to confirm that they have not experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA) - a serious medical condition that often acts as a precursor to stroke. Women with migraines and aura should consult their physicians about controlling or treating other stroke risk factors. A second study found that younger migraine sufferers (ages 16 to 49) had 2.7 times the risk of stroke when compared to their peers with similar habits. The researchers assert that, "The role of migraine in precipitating a stroke in young adults appears to be independent from the usual risk factors and from the consumption of wine, cigarettes and the contraceptive pills." Source: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3028594 Sex Differences in Stroke Clarified Spain 2004 – Spanish researchers recently confirmed and clarified that distinct differences exist in how and when stroke affects women and men. Stroke hits women harder and at a later age when compared to men. Women suffer from strokes at an average age of 75 years while the average age for men is 69 years. In addition, women experience more difficulty speaking, chewing or swallowing, and visual impairment after a stroke than men, who on average spend two days less in the hospital following a stroke. In addition, women in the study had higher rates of atrial fibrillation than men. This irregular heart rhythm condition is a risk factor for cardioembolic stroke. Fortunately, using blood thinners such as aspirin can reduce this risk factor. Hypertension is also a high risk factor for women, while men's high risk factors tend to be peripheral artery disease or alcohol abuse. Source: http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/513665.html African Americans Suffer More Physical Disability After Stroke January 2005 – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported recently that African American stroke survivors consistently reported more limitations than did white stroke survivors. The study tested abilities on 12 functional tasks, such as walking up ten steps without resting and standing for two hours. In addition, African Americans were 30% more likely than whites to report using specific aid equipment such as a cane or special bed. The study also asserts that a greater percentage of African American stroke survivors were younger than 65 years, had less education, and live below the poverty line than their white counterparts. When sex and employment status was compared between the two populations no significant differences were found. Quoting a recent British study, the report notes that African Americans "might have experienced more disability and lower quality of life compared to whites after stroke because they were younger and had more severe and disabling strokes than whites," not because of educational or economic factors. Source: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5401a2.htm Family History of Stroke May Increase Risk in Young Women December 2004 –- A study in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that women ages 18-44 with a family history of stroke are at increased risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Nearly half of the young female stroke victims interviewed for the study reported a history of stroke in a first-degree relative. This family effect, associated with a two-fold increase in stroke incidence, was consistent even after accounting for other vascular disease risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, and alcohol use. Researchers say it is still unclear why family history affects a woman's risk of stroke over her entire lifetime rather than during the latter part of her life. Further research is needed to clarify the sources of these family linkages, such as the influence of genetics and living environment. Source: Center for the Advancement of Health, www.hbns.org/news/stroke11-22-04.cfm Shop to Stop Stroke! Make your gift count twice this Holiday Season at iGive.com! A percentage of your purchases with major vendors will come to The Goddess Fund when you become a member of iGive.com. From electronics to clothing, literature to furniture, every purchase you make benefits The Goddess Fund. Click on the icon below to start giving. It's a simple way for you to help us strike back against stroke. Few Americans Getting Life-Saving Stroke Prevention Tests September 2004 – Vascular surgeons argue that stroke prevention could be bolstered by two simple diagnostic tests that are vastly underutilized. The first, carotid ultrasound, identifies fatty plaque build-up in the carotid arteries. Dr. William R. Flinn, chief of vascular surgery at the University of Maryland says "Roughly one-half of all stroke deaths... could be prevented with the carotid ultrasound test." Once blockages are found they can be controlled by diet, drugs, and in some cases, surgery. The ankle-brachial test, or ABI, compares blood pressure between the arm and ankle. Partially blocked arteries will produce lower blood pressure in the ankle than in the arm. And blockage in an extremity is a strong indicator of blockages elsewhere in the body. Unfortunately, neither test is widely used in stroke prevention. Experts believe they will become more prevalent if Medicare and private insurers begin to cover the tests as part of standard health screenings in older Americans. Source: The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) top