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Age-Related Memory Loss, Invite Health Blog

Age-Related Memory Loss, Invite Health Blog

  Written by Dr.Claire Arcidiacono, ND For further questions or concerns email me at [email protected]† This will be our last blog on this topic before we have our review on memory and brain health. I wanted to take a moment to talk about typical memory changes 

Targeted Support for Spider & Varicose Veins, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 664

Targeted Support for Spider & Varicose Veins, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 664

Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. TARGETED SUPPORT FOR SPIDER & VARICOSE VEINS, INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 664 Hosted by Amanda Williams, MD, MPH. *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast: [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed 

Stroke, Part III, Invite Health Blog

Stroke, Part III, Invite Health Blog

Written by Dr.Claire Arcidiacono, ND

For further questions or concerns email me at [email protected]

In this final part on strokes, I wanted to review the most common symptoms that can indicate a stroke. One point I would like to emphasize is that we are all individuals. We all know how our body feels when everything is working correctly. Therefore if you feel something is wrong or not working properly it is important to seek appropriate medical care. This is especially important when it comes to strokes because the earlier they are treated the better the outcome.†

To start with there is an easy mnemonic to remember the early signs of a stroke. This is FAST which stands for facial droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call emergency services. (1) Depending on where the stroke occurs there can be what is referred to as hemiparesis or a weakness of one entire side of the body. This can include muscle weakness in the face. (2) There may also be numbness in different parts of the body.  There may be a reduction in sensory or vibratory sensation. An individual may have initially decreased muscle tone that is replaced by increased muscle tone as well as excessive reflexes. † (3)

If the stroke occurs in the brain stem the cranial nerves may also be affected. This means that there may be changes in your sense of smell, taste, hearing and even vision. There may be a weakness in the muscles of the eyelid and even the eyes themselves. There may also be balance changes. There can also be weakness in certain other muscles such as the face, sternocleidomastoid and even the tongue. If the stoke involves the cerebral cortex there may be additional symptoms such as confusion and hypersexual gestures. (4) Other symptoms that can be associated with a stroke can include loss of consciousness, headache, and even in some cases vomiting.†  (5)

In summary if you have a family history of stoke or any of the other risk factors the main thing that you want to be aware of is to use the FAST mnemonic. If there is an inability to move/feel one side of the body or problems with speech, dizziness or even loss of vision it is important to get medical attention ASAP. †  (6)

How do we reduce our risk factors? It is always important to talk to your doctor about any risk factors you may have. An Invite nutritionist is always available to help talk to you about incorporating supplements into your lifestyle and how that would work with any medications you may be taking. It is always important to review any medications you are talking with a nutritionist before starting a supplement protocol to ensure that the supplements work together and don’t contradict with your medications. This is especially important when talking about stroke supplements due to the nature of many prescriptions that are used after a stroke. As I always say, better safe than sorry. On to some supplements! †

Let’s start with reducing our risk factors:

  1. It is important to make any necessary life style changes. For example stop smoking, get help to stop using any stimulant drugs and lose weight if necessary. It is also a good idea to work with your stress levels so that they are a manageable level. Studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet can help reduce stroke risk. † (7)
  2. Reduce blood pressure – since having high blood pressure is a huge risk factor it is important to maintain healthy levels.†
    • Magnesium has been found in studies to help to lower blood pressure levels especially in those with conditions such as pre-diabetes or even diabetes. (8) Magnesium is also useful for those at risk of stroke who are diabetic as studies have found it can also help with insulin resistance. (9) Lastly, magnesium has been found in studies to also help to reduce stress and anxiety which is also important at reducing stroke risk. (10) Please see Invite’s Magnesium citrate, glycinate and Bioavail magnesium powder.
    • Grape seed has also been found in studies to be helpful in normalizing blood pressure (11) and helping with blood sugar (12) and is excellent for overall circulation according to studies. (13)That makes it a great choice for helping with blood pressure. Please see Invite’s Grape seed extract.†
    • Hawthorne is amazing for heart health and has been found to be in studies to help lower blood pressure. (14) Please see Invite’s Cardio Hx and Normo-tensive† 
    • Olive leaf extract has been found to help in a number of chronic conditions that increase risk of stroke. In studies it has been found to help with high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. (15) Additionally it has been found in studies to help with blood sugar regulation as well. (16) Olive leaf has even been found to reduce inflammation which is also a stroke risk factor. (17) Please see Invite’s Olive leaf extract and Normo-Tensive† 
  3. It is important to reduce high cholesterol since this is also a risk factor.†
  • Plant sterols have been found in studies to lower cholesterol. (18) Please see Invite’s Sterols and Sterols plus† 
  • Garlic has been found in studies to reduce cholesterol. (19) Garlic is a great supplement for helping with reducing risk factors for strokes because studies have found in addition to helping with cholesterol it also helps to lower blood pressure. (20) Additionally garlic has been found to help with inflammation which is also a stroke risk factor. (21) Please see Invite’s Aged garlic† 
  • Omega 3s are a powerhouse when it comes to helping with cholesterol. Studies have found that Omega 3s can increase the protective HDL (22) as well as reduce triglycerides.(23) Having higher blood omega 3 concentrations has also been found to be associated with a better blood pressure. Thus omega 3s are indicated to help high blood pressure. (24) As I’ve said many times Omega 3s are also amazing for inflammation which is stroke risk factor. † (25)
  1. Diabetes is also a risk factor. I would encourage you to check out my blog series on this important topic!†

DIABETES TYPE 2, INVITE HEALTH BLOG>>READ NOW

What can I do after a stroke?

  1. It is important to work with your doctor regarding medications, and physical therapy as well as any speech therapy you may need.
  2. Significant improvement in stroke outcome 3 months after a stroke has been reported in studies with vitamin D supplementation. (26) Please see Invite’s Vitamin D3 1000IU , 3000IU and liquid Vitamin D3† 
  3. Taking B12 can help improve brain health and aid in recovery after a stroke according to studies. (27) Please see Invites B12 Lozenges and Methyl-B as well as our B50 and B100!†
  4. Alcar has been found to be neuroprotective in cases of ischemic brain injury. In other words it can protect the brain cells. (28) Please see Invite’s Alcar with ALA as well as Cerebral Care.† 
  5. Tocotrienols have been found to be very protective of the brain especially the white matter. (29) Vitamin E has also been found to help reduce stroke risk. Please see Invite’s Tocotrienols with Pine Bark, as well as our Natural E† 

In our blog next week we will be reviewing age related memory changes.†

 

REFERENCES

  1. Harbison J, Massey A, Barnett L, Hodge D, Ford GA (June 1999). “Rapid ambulance protocol for acute stroke”. Lancet. 353 (9168): 1935. doi:1016/S0140-6736(99)00966-6. PMID 10371574. S2CID 36692451.
  2. Detailed article about hemiparesis Archived 2022-02-02 at the Wayback Machine at Disabled-World.com
  3. O’Sullivan SB (2007). “Stroke”. In O’Sullivan SB, Schmitz TJ (eds.). Physical Rehabilitation. Vol. 5. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. p. 719.
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke#cite_note-OSul07_719-40
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm#:~:text=Sudden%20numbness%20or%20weakness%20in,balance%2C%20or%20lack%20of%20coordination.
  6. “What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke?”. www.nhlbi.nih.gov. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.020258
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573024/
  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28526383/
  10. Boyle NB, et. al. (2017). The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress – A systematic review. DOI: 3390/nu9050429
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7922661/
  12. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4415266
  13. Freedman JE, Parker C 3rd, Li L, et al. Select flavonoids and whole juice from purple grapes inhibit platelet function and enhance nitric oxide release. Circulation. 2001;103(23):2792-2798.
  14. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/hawthorn#:~:text=High%20blood%20pressure,-Although%20hawthorn%20has&text=Participants%20took%201%2C200%20mg%20hawthorn,you%20have%20high%20blood%20pressure.
  15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26951205/
  16. PLoS One: “Olive (Olea europaea L.) Leaf Polyphenols Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Middle-Aged Overweight Men: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.”
  17. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87628-7
  18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5867554/#:~:text=Two%20g%20of%20plant%20sterol,be%20as%20high%20as%209%25.
  19. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11238803/
  20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6966103/
  21. https://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-019-1204-6#:~:text=In%20an%20in%2Dvitro%20study,inflammatory%20bowel%20disease%20%5B20%5D.
  22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5827911/
  23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875260/
  24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6085127/
  25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12480795/
  26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376887/
  27. https://brainblogger.com/2014/07/30/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-its-neurological-consequences/
  28. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.004449
  29. https://svn.bmj.com/content/6/1/109

Drugs that Increase Your Risk of Heat Stroke, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 663

Drugs that Increase Your Risk of Heat Stroke, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 663

Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. DRUGS THAT INCREASE YOUR RISK OF HEAT STROKE, INVITEⓇ HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 663 Hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph. *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our 

Protect Yourself on Bad Air Quality Days, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 662

Protect Yourself on Bad Air Quality Days, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 662

Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. PROTECT YOURSELF ON BAD AIR QUALITY DAYS, INVITEⓇ HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 662 Hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph. *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed 

Stroke, Part II, Invite Health Blog

Stroke, Part II, Invite Health Blog

Written by Dr.Claire Arcidiacono, ND

For further questions or concerns email me at [email protected]

Last week we began our conversation on the topic of strokes or CVA and even talked about TIAs. As I said last time this will be a 3 part blog.  We will be continuing with part 2 of this topic today. In this blog, we will review what actually causes a stroke? What are the risk factors you should be aware of and what are the most common complications after a stroke?†

What actually causes a stroke to occur? Well as you can most likely guess anything that affects blood flow to the brain can potentially cause a stroke to occur. In the case of hemorrhagic stroke, some causes include but are not limited to: hypertension, ruptured aneurysms, ruptured AV fistula, prior ischemic stroke and drug- induced bleeding. (1) An ischemic stroke is caused basically by blood clots or anything that blocks the flow of blood. For example in addition to blood clots blood flow can be blocked by cancer cells, fat, and even clumps of bacteria from infections such as infectious endocarditis.† (2)

Now as I’ve said anything that blocks blood flow to the brain is a risk factor for strokes. But what does this mean in terms of risk factors that we can reduce or even eliminate? What do we need to look out for? Obviously as I mentioned in my prior blog having a TIA is a huge risk factor for developing a stroke. Another one of the biggest risk factors for having a stroke is high blood pressure. (3) Unfortunately high blood pressure is very often asymptomatic. This means that you have high blood pressure but don’t know. That is why it is often referred to as a silent killer. In some cases of high blood pressure the presence of high blood pressure can be indicated by headaches, lightheartedness, vertigo or tinnitus. (4) In my clinical experience I have found it is important for anyone with these symptoms to monitor their blood pressure.  Another very common risk factor for a stroke is having high cholesterol. (5) Other risk factors that can increase stroke risk include having diabetes, kidney disease, and atrial fibrillation as well as being obese. Tobacco use can also increase stroke risk. (6) Having a brain aneurysm can increase the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke. (7)  Having atherosclerosis is another huge risk factor for having a stroke. (8) Using stimulants such as cocaine increase stroke risk greatly. (9)  Alterations in blood vessels that can increase stroke risk include,  cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral arteriovenous malformations and intracranial aneurysm.(10) Head trauma can also increase the risk of a stoke by either weakening the blood vessels so that they rupture or by disrupting blood clotting in the brain. (11) Having chronic or long term inflammation has also been found to increase stroke risk. Certain chronic conditions such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell anemia can also increase the risk of strokes. Having a history of COVID -19 may also increase the risk of a stroke however, more research is needed on this topic.† (12)

ICYMI:STROKE, PART I, INVITE HEALTH BLOG>>READ NOW!

There are certain risk factors that increase risk of stroke especially in women. I would like to take a few minutes to review these particular risk factors.  One very common risk factor for women is the use of oral contraception pills. These pills have been found to increase the risk of blood clots and thus can increase the risk of a stroke. Pre-eclampsia which is high blood pressure during pregnancy can also increase the risk of a stroke.†(13)

Lastly if you have a family history of strokes or TIA you are more likely to have a stroke. Race also appears to affect the risk of stroke. For those of African American, Alaska Native, American Indian and Hispanic descent there is a higher risk than in those of a causation descent.† (12)

What are the most common complications after a stroke? 

The complications of a stroke can be physical, mental and/or emotional. In 75% of stroke survivors the physical disability is bad enough to decrease a person ability to work. (14) In some individuals this can also impact their ability to carry out activities of daily living. In up to 10% of individuals there is an increased risk of developing seizures. (15) Urinary incontinence occurs in approximately 15% of stroke survivors. (16) Sexual dysfunction occurs in up to 50% of people after a stroke. (17) Other physical changes can include but are not limited to muscle weakness, numbness, pressure sores, apraxia, as well as decreased appetite, vision and speech loss.† (18)

There may be anxiety, panic attacks, flat affect as well as mania, apathy and psychosis after a stroke. (19) There may also be changes in your ability to communicate. In up to 50% of stroke survivors there is depression. (20) In up to 20% of survivors there is emotional lability. (21) Cognitive changes after a stroke include perceptual disorders, aphasia, dementia, reduced attention span and decrease in memory. (22)Lastly there may be hemi spatial neglect, where a person is unable to process and perceive any stimulus on the opposite side that the stroke occurred on.†(23)

In our next blog we will review signs and symptoms of a stroke. We will also cover ways to help mitigate risk factors and how to help aid in the healing process after a stroke has occurred.†

CIRCULATION SOLUTIONS & TIPS FOR HEALTHY VESSELS, INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 646>>LISTEN NOW!

 

REFERENCES

Smith WS, English JD, Johnston SC (2012). “Chapter 370: Cerebrovascular Diseases”. In Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J (eds.). Harrison’s principles of internal medicine (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 3270–3299. ISBN 978-0-07-174889-6.

  1. Kumar V (2009). Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4377-0792-2.
  2. Strandgaard S (October 1996). “Hypertension and stroke”. Journal of Hypertension Supplement. 14 (3): S23-7. doi:1097/00004872-199610003-00005. PMID 9120662. S2CID 11817729.
  3. Fisher ND, Williams GH (2005). “Hypertensive vascular disease”. In Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, et al. (eds.). Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine (16th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 1463–1481. ISBN 978-0-07-139140-5.
  4. “Cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure, and stroke: 13,000 strokes in 450,000 people in 45 prospective cohorts. Prospective studies collaboration”. Lancet. 346 (8991–8992): 1647–53. 1995. doi:1016/S0140-6736(95)92836-7. PMID 8551820. S2CID 12043767.
  5. “Who Is at Risk for a Stroke?”. www.nhlbi.nih.gov. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. “Types of Stroke”. www.nhlbi.nih.gov. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. Adams HP, Bendixen BH, Kappelle LJ, Biller J, Love BB, Gordon DL, Marsh EE (January 1993). “Classification of subtype of acute ischemic stroke. Definitions for use in a multicenter clinical trial. TOAST. Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment”. Stroke. 24 (1): 35–41. doi:1161/01.STR.24.1.35. PMID 7678184.
  8. Osterweil N (26 December 2006). “Methamphetamine May Trigger Ischemic Stroke”. Medpage Today.
  9. “Articles”. Cedars-Sinai. Archived from the original on 2020-05-30. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  10. https://www.emergencyhospitals.care/can-a-head-injury-cause-a-stroke/
  11. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/stroke/causes
  12. https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-stroke/are-you-at-risk-of-stroke/women-and-stroke
  13. Coffey CE, Cummings JL, Starkstein S, Robinson R (2000). Stroke – the American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry (Second ed.). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press. pp. 601–17. ISBN 9780880488419.
  14. Reith J, Jørgensen HS, Nakayama H, Raaschou HO, Olsen TS (August 1997). “Seizures in acute stroke: predictors and prognostic significance. The Copenhagen Stroke Study”. Stroke. 28 (8): 1585–9. doi:1161/01.STR.28.8.1585. PMID 9259753.
  15. Thomas LH, Coupe J, Cross LD, Tan AL, Watkins CL (February 2019). “Interventions for treating urinary incontinence after stroke in adults”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019 (2): CD004462. doi:1002/14651858.CD0
  16. Stratton H, Sansom J, Brown-Major A, Anderson P, Ng L (May 2020). “Interventions for sexual dysfunction following stroke”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020 (5): CD011189. doi:1002/14651858.CD011189.pub2. PMC 7197697. PMID 32356377.
  17. Burn J, Dennis M, Bamford J, Sandercock P, Wade D, Warlow C (December 1997). “Epileptic seizures after a first stroke: the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project”. BMJ. 315 (7122): 1582–7. doi:1136/bmj.315.7122.1582. PMC 2127973. PMID 9437276.
  18. an KM (2014). “Disorders of emotional communication after stroke”. In Schweizer TA, Macdonald RL (eds.). The behavioral consequences of stroke. New York [u.a.]: Springer. pp. 119–33. doi:1007/978-1-4614-7672-6_7. ISBN978-1-4614-7671-9.
  19. Senelick RC, Rossi PW, Dougherty K (1994). Living with Stroke: A Guide for Families. Contemporary Books, Chicago. ISBN 978-0-8092-2607-8. OCLC 40856888.
  20. Coffey CE, Cummings JL, Starkstein S, Robinson R (2000). Stroke – the American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry (Second ed.). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press. pp. 601–17. ISBN 9780880488419.
  21. Kuźma E, Lourida I, Moore SF, Levine DA, Ukoumunne OC, Llewellyn DJ (November 2018). “Stroke and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 14 (11): 1416–1426. doi:1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061. PMC 6231970. PMID 30177276.
  22. Murray ED, Buttner N, Price BH (2012). “Depression and Psychosis in Neurological Practice”. In Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J (eds.). Bradley’s neurology in clinical practice. Vol. 1 (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders. pp. 100–01. ISBN 978-1-4377-0434-1.