Stroke Health Center

News and Features Related to Stroke

After a Stroke: Medications to Reduce Arm Spasticity

When it comes to stroke rehabilitation, one medication doesn’t fit all. Your stroke rehab team will work with you to find out which medications, if any, can help you regain control of your extremities after a stroke. It's important to remember these medications are not a cure. They are ongoing treat
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Stroke Recovery and Rehab: 10 Important Questions

After a stroke, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about how -- and even if -- you will recover. When will you be able to move your affected limbs? Will you ever be able to speak clearly? Is your independent life gone forever? "It's difficult to predict precisely how much function a p
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Stroke Prevention Lifestyle Tips

If you've had a stroke, preventing a second stroke is a top priority. "The risk of a stroke is tenfold higher in someone who has had a stroke in the past," says Larry B. Goldstein, MD, professor of medicine (neurology) and director of the Duke Stroke Center in Durham, N.C. Prevention of a second str
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Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab

Regaining use of your arm after a stroke may feel like a daunting task. Among other things, your brain must relearn skills it lost when it was damaged by the stroke. Recent research, though, shows that the brain is amazingly resilient. It is capable of adapting and increasing activity after a stroke
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Low-Fat Dairy May Help Lower Stroke Risk

April 19, 2012 -- Middle-aged and older adults may be able to lower their risk of having a stroke by eating low-fat dairy products, according to a Swedish study published in the journal Stroke. The study researchers, who tracked the diets of nearly 75,000 men and women over 10 years, found that thos
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Depression After Stroke Too Often Goes Untreated

March 29, 2012 -- Many people who have a stroke or so-called mini-stroke become depressed afterward, yet up to two-thirds are not getting ample treatment for their depression. Researchers report that news in the journal Stroke. "A lot of people are not aware of this risk,” Duke University stroke res
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Citrus Fruits May Lower Women's Stroke Risk

Feb. 23, 2012 -- Researchers have identified a compound found in oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits that may lower a woman’s stroke risk. Previous studies suggest that eating fruits and vegetables helps protect against strokes, and many believe that antioxidant compounds known as flavonoi
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1 in 2 Stroke Survivors Has High Blood Pressure

Feb. 2, 2012 -- A disturbing 47% of people who have had a stroke have poorly controlled high blood pressure, researchers say. "High blood pressure is the strongest risk factor for stroke, so you would think patients and their doctors would be vigilant about making sure blood pressure is under contro
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Sunny Skies Linked to Lower Stroke Risk

Feb. 1, 2012 -- People who live in sunny places may have a lower risk of stroke, new research suggests. The researchers believe it is the first to show an association between sunlight and stroke. A second study suggests eating a lot of salmon, eggs, tuna, and other vitamin D-rich foods may help prot
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Study: Stents as Good as Surgery at Keeping Neck Arteries Open

Feb. 1, 2012 -- A less invasive approach for clearing neck arteries of dangerous plaque works just as well as surgical treatment for most people at high risk of stroke, according to the largest comparison of the two procedures to date. Ninety-four percent of patients' arteries remained open two year
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