Stroke Awareness Foundation

07/25/2025

Most brain disorders look sudden, but they build for years. A new review from Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham pinpoints 17 modifiable factors that turn up again and again in stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. Tackle even one, and you trim risk for all three; tackle several, and benefits compound significantly over time for long-term cognitive health. The researchers wrapped everything into a 21-point Brain Care Score so clinicians and patients can track progress just as they would blood pressure or cholesterol. Their bottom line: genes set the stage, but daily habits, environment, and treatable medical issues ultimately decide the plot. Act sooner, age better.

To learn all 17, read the link below:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/other/harvard-study-reveals-17-threats-to-brain-health-that-quietly-boost-your-risk-of-stroke-and-dementia/ar-AA1IVjia

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07/23/2025

Erythritol, a widely used sugar substitute found in many low-carb and sugar-free products, may not be as harmless as once believed. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that even small amounts of erythritol can harm brain blood vessel cells, promoting constriction, clotting, and inflammation—all of which may raise the risk of stroke.

First approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001, erythritol is a sugar alcohol, often produced by fermenting corn and found in hundreds of products. It has almost no calories, is about 80% as sweet as table sugar, and has negligible impact on insulin levels, making it a favorite for people trying to lose weight, keep their blood sugar in check or avoid carbohydrates.

But recent research has begun to shed light on its risks.

One recent study involving 4,000 people in the U.S. and Europe found that men and women with higher circulating levels of erythritol were significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke within the next three years.
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Erythritol, a widely used sugar substitute found in many low-carb and sugar-free products, may not be as harmless as once believed. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that even small amounts of erythritol can harm brain blood vessel cells, promoting constriction, clotting,....

07/21/2025

Find the Nearest Stroke Certified Center Near You. Search anywhere in the US, by city, state, or zip.

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Find the Nearest Stroke Certified Center Near You. Search anywhere in the US, by city, state, or zip. Related Posts Nothing Found

07/20/2025

Load the App. Save a Life. Download the Free Stroke Awareness Foundation App Today!

1. Locate the nearest Stroke Center anywhere in the U.S.
2. Identify Stroke Signs and Symptoms
3. Notify emergency contacts of your geolocation and that you are having a stroke.
4. Available in English, Español, 中文 , and Quốc ngữ

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Load the App. Save a Life. Download the Free Stroke Awareness Foundation App. Load the App. Save a Life. Download the Free Stroke Awareness Foundation App. Locate the nearest Stroke Center Identify Stroke Signs and Symptoms Notify emergency contacts of your

07/18/2025

80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes like exercise, diet and more. Here are 7 habits to avoid to reduce your risk of stroke:
1. Have A Sedentary Lifestyle
2. Ignore High Blood Pressure
3. Skip Regular Check-Ups
4. Smoke
5. Drink Too Much Alcohol
6. Ignore Your Diet
7. Dismiss Necessary Treatment
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Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. But there are ways you can lower your risk.

07/18/2025

Thank you to MidPen Housing for hosting a Stroke Awareness Foundation presentation and helping educate our community on the warning signs of stroke. Remember, when experiencing stroke symptoms, dialing 911 immediately saves lives!

Learn the signs of stroke and BEFAST at https://www.strokeinfo.org, and download our free stroke emergency app here: http://onelink.to/brjr2w.

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07/16/2025

Harvard study shows that chronic loneliness and feelings of isolation could dramatically up the odds of having a devastating stroke among middle-age and older adults.

People who chronically reported feeling lonely had a 56% higher risk of stroke, compared to people who said they didn’t feel lonely. There was no significantly higher risk of stroke for people who reported situational rather than long-term loneliness.

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and most commonly happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked, resulting in brain injury or death due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

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A new study by Harvard researchers further shows how loneliness may affect physical health. Long-term feelings of being left out or lacking companionship among middle-aged and older people could increase their risk of having a life-threatening stroke.

07/14/2025

A recent brain health study gathered health data over a 20-year period to identify biomarkers and targets for preventing and curing brain diseases. When researchers scanned the brains of study participants, they found that some had “silent stokes” without knowing. A silent stroke occurs when brain cells die without any symptoms of stroke, including slurred speech or paralysis. This is why individuals might not realize they have had a stroke unless they have an MRI or CT scan for another reason.

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Dr. Wengui Yu, a neurologist and director of the UCI Health Comprehensive Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center, spoke with Parade about silent stokes and how they can increase the risk for future strokes

07/11/2025

Listen to Carmine Indindoli's Stroke Story from Beyond Stillness .
Beyond Stillness empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories as gifts of inspiration and hope. Through a reflective story-crafting process, survivors uncover and share the wisdom gained from their recovery.

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https://www.strokeinfo.org/stories/

07/09/2025

Every year, close to 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke — that’s one every 40 seconds. If those stats are hard to wrap your head around, consider this: Many don’t get treatment quickly enough. Perhaps they didn’t recognize the signs of a stroke; or they chose to take a wait-and-see approach, hoping the symptoms would subside; or they didn’t notice symptoms at all (that’s known as a “silent stroke”). Here are 8 myths about stroke:

Myth #1: Strokes happen only to older people.
Fact: Anybody at any age can have a stroke.

Myth #2: Ministrokes are no cause for concern
Fact: TIAs are a harbinger of stroke. Up to 25 percent will have a stroke or major cardiovascular event within 90 days. It’s essential to be evaluated after a TIA to identify the cause and treat it to prevent stroke.

Myth #3: Women and men experience the same symptoms of stroke
Fact: Both sexes experience the most common symptoms, but women can experience more generalized symptoms that are less likely to be taken seriously. These include fainting, sudden general weakness and shortness of breath, confusion, agitation and even nausea.

Myth #4: Strokes are as unpredictable as a bolt of lightning
Fact: 80 percent of strokes are preventable by managing risk factors

Myth #5: Strokes don’t run in families
Fact: They do run in families with genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease and genetic causes such as AFib, or high cholesterol and high blood pressure

Myth #6: You can treat a stroke by taking aspirin at the first symptom
Fact: It is not recommended to take aspirin

Myth #7: Stroke always causes paralysis
Fact: Paralysis happens in up to 80 percent of people.

Myth #8 You can’t recover from a stroke
Fact: Recovery depends on the severity of stroke, the area of the brain affected and the timeliness of treatment.

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Separating fact from fiction is vital for stroke recovery; it empowers individuals to act quickly for better health outcomes or to avoid stroke altogether

07/07/2025

When Nestor Montalvo woke up last September, he knew something was wrong. He had a headache, and his vision was blurred. The symptoms felt like a "really bad hangover," but he hadn't been drinking the day before. When he tried to stand, the right side of his body was numb.

His wife helped him up and immediately called 911. Paramedics gave him alarming news: He was having a stroke.

Montalvo had a blockage, or an ischemic stroke. In these types of strokes, cells in the brain lose access to nutrients and oxygen, causing damage. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the worse the damage can be.

He was treated at the hospital, but had a long road to recovery. His vocal cords collapsed, and he needed a tracheotomy to allow him to breathe. He couldn't talk or swallow because of the tubes, and aftereffects from the stroke itself made it difficult for him to speak and eat.

Now, about a year after his stroke, Montalvo is doing better. He can speak and eat like before, and is enjoying retirement by spending time with his family.

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Read Nestor Montalvo's entire story here:

Nestor Montalvo's severe symptoms were a sign of a dangerous condition. Rapid treatment saved his life.

07/04/2025

Stroke is a leading cause of death, but small, consistent habits can reduce your risk. It’s easy to focus on what to do by day, but experts say our nighttime habits matter, too.

They suggest moving more, getting enough sleep and avoiding late meals and alcohol.

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4 things to avoid after 5 P.M. to reduce stroke risk, according to experts, are late meals, alcohol, lounging on the couch and staying up late.