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It’s extremely hot and I’m feeling weak and dizzy. Could I have heat stroke?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107">Lily Hospers</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Australia is braced for a hot, dry summer. El Nino is back, and this year it will occur alongside an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/positive-indian-ocean-dipole-to-coincide-with-el-nino/102756378">Indian Ocean dipole</a>, a climate pattern which will further amplify this hot and dry effect.</p> <p>Hot weather can place great stress on our bodies. When the environmental conditions exceed the limit at which we can adequately cope, we can suffer from heat-related illnesses.</p> <p>Heat illnesses can vary, from relatively mild heat exhaustion to the potentially life-threatening condition of heat stroke.</p> <h2>What are the signs and symptoms?</h2> <p>If you’re suffering from heat exhaustion, you may feel weakness, nausea, headaches or dizziness.</p> <p>Mild <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">symptoms of heat exhaustion</a> can often be treated at home by reducing your levels of physical activity, finding shade, removing excess clothing, hydrating with water and perhaps even taking a cool shower.</p> <p>If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can progress to the far more serious condition of heat stroke, where your core temperature climbs upwards of 40°C. <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">Symptoms</a> can develop rapidly and may include confusion, disorientation, agitation, convulsions, or it could even result in a coma.</p> <p>Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment. Call an ambulance and start rapid, aggressive cooling by immersing the person in cold water (such as a cold bath). If this isn’t possible, apply ice packs to their neck, armpits and groin and cover the skin with lots of cool water.</p> <p>When it comes to cooling someone with suspected heat stroke, the quicker the better: cool first, transport second.</p> <h2>Why do we overheat?</h2> <p>Environmental conditions play an important role in determining our heat stress risk. If the air temperature, humidity and levels of sun exposure are high, we are much more likely to dangerously overheat.</p> <p>When the body gets hot, the heart pumps more warm blood to our skin to help lose heat. As air temperature rises, this way of shedding heat becomes ineffective. When air temperature is higher than the temperature of the skin (normally around 35°C), we start gaining heat from our surroundings.</p> <p>Sweating is by far our most effective physiological means of keeping cool. However, it is the <em>evaporation</em> of sweat from our skin that provides cooling relief.</p> <p>When the air is humid, it already contains a lot of moisture, and this reduces how efficiently sweat evaporates.</p> <p>Our physical activity levels and clothing also impact heat stress risk. When we move, our bodies generate metabolic heat as a by-product. The more intense physical activity is, the more heat we must lose to avoid dangerous rises in core temperature.</p> <p>Finally, clothing can act as an insulator and barrier for the evaporation of sweat, making it even more difficult for us to keep cool.</p> <h2>Who is most vulnerable in the heat?</h2> <p>Some people <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/people-most-at-risk.aspx">are at greater risk</a> of developing heat illness than others. This can result from physiological limitations, such as a decreased capacity to sweat, or a reduced capacity to adapt our behaviour. When these two risk factors coincide, it’s a perfect storm of vulnerability.</p> <p>Take, for example, an elderly outdoor agricultural worker. Being aged over 60, their physiological capacity to sweat is reduced. The worker may also be wearing heavy safety clothing, which may further limit heat loss from the body. If they don’t slow down, seek shelter and adequately hydrate, they become even more vulnerable.</p> <p>When a person dies of heat stroke – which is relatively easy to diagnose – heat will be listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. Between 2001 and 2018 in Australia, 473 heat-related deaths were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006324">officially reported</a>.</p> <p>However, the true association between heat and death is thought to be far greater, with an <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30100-5/fulltext">estimated 36,000 deaths</a> in Australia between 2006 and 2017.</p> <p>This is because most people who die during extreme heat events do not die from heat stroke. Instead, they they die of <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199607113350203">other medical complications</a> such as cardiovascular or renal collapse, as additional strain is placed on essential organs such as the heart and kidneys.</p> <p>People with underlying health conditions are more likely to succumb to heat-associated complications before they develop critical core temperature (over 40°C) and heat stroke.</p> <p>In such cases, while the additional physiological strain imposed by the heat probably “caused” the death, the official “cause of death” is often listed as something else, such as a heart attack. This can make understanding the true health burden of extreme heat more difficult.</p> <h2>How to stay safe in the heat</h2> <p>Thankfully, there are effective, low-cost <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLancet/status/1677702906789740545">ways</a> of staying safe in the heat. These include: <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215084/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <ul> <li>staying adequately hydrated</li> <li>getting out of the heat to a cooler area indoors or shaded area outdoors</li> <li>loosening or removing clothing</li> <li>cooling down any way you can: <ul> <li>using an electric fan (which can be used at 37°C and below, irrespective of age and humidity)</li> <li>using a cold-water spray</li> <li>applying a cool, damp sponge or cloth</li> <li>wetting clothes and skin</li> <li>having a cool shower or bath</li> <li>applying ice packs or crushed ice in a damp towel on the neck, groin and armpits.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107"><em>Lily Hospers</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, Post-doctoral Research Associate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, Professor of Heat &amp; Health; Director of Heat &amp; Health Research Incubator; Director of Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">original ar</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">ticle</a>.</em></p>

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Daily aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in older, healthy people after all

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>The daily use of <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/drugs-in-secondary-stroke-prevention">low dose aspirin</a> has been a mainstay of preventing strokes for decades. While there has always been a risk of bleeding associated with aspirin use, the benefits were thought to outweigh the risk.</p> <p>Now <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25803">new research</a> led by Monash University has shown daily, low-dose aspirin doesn’t prevent strokes in relatively healthy people aged over 70. And it increases their risk of bleeding on the brain after falls or other injuries.</p> <p>But if you’re taking aspirin, it doesn’t mean you should abruptly stop. It may still have a role to play in treating people at high risk of stroke. Or, after talking to your doctor, there might be better options available.</p> <h2>Why has aspirin been used to prevent strokes?</h2> <p>Aspirin is an anti-platelet medicine, which is commonly known as a blood-thinner. <a href="https://www.lifeblood.com.au/blood/learn-about-blood/platelets">Platelets</a> are the component of blood primarily responsible for its clotting action. They are what stop you from continuously bleeding any time you have a cut or scrape on your skin.</p> <p>A <a href="https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/what-is-a-stroke">stroke</a> is when oxygen can’t get into the brain because of a burst or blocked blood vessel. A blockage can occur when platelets in the bloodstream form a clot and it gets stuck in the artery.</p> <p>Because aspirin acts on platelets, it can help prevent the clots that can lead to a stroke.</p> <p>But because aspirin acts on platelets, it can also increase the risk of <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/daily-aspirin-therapy/art-20046797#:%7E:text=While%20daily%20aspirin%20can%20help,of%20developing%20a%20stomach%20ulcer.">unwanted bleeding</a>, usually in the stomach. It can also increase your risk of bleeding more when you have another injury, like hitting your head.</p> <p>Aspirin isn’t just used for the prevention of strokes. It is also the first aid treatment for someone undergoing a <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/acute-myocardial-infarction-early-treatment">heart attack</a>.</p> <h2>Findings of the Monash trial</h2> <p>New <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25803">research from Australia and the United States</a> reports results from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial.</p> <p>The researchers examined the protective use of daily low-dose aspirin (100 mg) in nearly 2,000 people who were aged 70 years and older and had no history of heart disease or stroke and whose blood pressure and cholesterol were well managed.</p> <p>When compared with placebo, aspirin didn’t reduce or increase the risk of stroke. Of the participants who took the aspirin, 195 or 4.6% had a stroke. Of those who took the placebo, 203 people or 4.7% had a stroke.</p> <p>But it did statistically increase the rate of non-stroke bleeding in the participants’ brains, for example when they injured their head. Those on aspirin showed a rate of bleeding in the brain of 1.1% (108 participants) compared with 0.8% (79 people) for those on placebo. This is a relatively, low but serious, risk.</p> <p>These findings are not entirely new. <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1800722?query=featured_home">Research</a> published five years ago based on the same ASPREE trial showed a similar result: a higher rate of bleeding among those taking low-dose aspirin compared with placebo.</p> <p>However as the study authors note, aspirin continues to be widely used for the prevention of stroke.</p> <h2>What are the study’s limitations?</h2> <p>The researchers examined aspirin in mostly people of white European heritage.</p> <p>So we don’t know whether the results are translatable to people with different ethnic backgrounds. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2594139/">Genetics and ethnicity</a> can significantly impact the efficacy and safety of some drugs.</p> <p>The clinical trial only included people who were not significantly at risk of a stroke, and had no history of heart disease.</p> <p>Younger age groups were not studied either, so we cannot make any conclusions about their use of low dose aspirin to prevent stroke.</p> <p>It’s also possible the potential benefits and risks are different for those who have underlying heart problems or who have previously had a stroke and are therefore at higher risk of another stroke.</p> <h2>I’m taking aspirin, what should I do?</h2> <p>If you’re taking daily low-dose aspirin and are concerned by the results of the study, it’s important you don’t just stop taking your medicine. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist.</p> <p>For people who are at high risk of having a stroke, or have previously had one, low-dose aspirin may remain their treatment of choice despite the slight bleeding risk.</p> <p>If you’re at high risk of bleeding, for example because of falls and other accidents due to advanced age, frailty, or another underlying condition, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of aspirin you take by adding in <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/dipyridamole">dipyridamole</a> or prescribing a different medicine completely, such as <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/clopidogrel">clopidogrel</a>.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210388/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nial-wheate-96839">Nial Wheate</a>, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tina-hinton-329706">Tina Hinton</a>, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty </em><em>Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/daily-aspirin-doesnt-prevent-strokes-in-older-healthy-people-after-all-210388">original article</a>.</em></p>

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"What a FIGHTER!": Susan Boyle reveals secret health scare during comeback

<p>Singing sensation Susan Boyle surprised her fans with an unexpected appearance on<em> Britain’s Got Talent </em>for the competition’s extravagant final. </p> <p>Boyle, who had previously appeared on the show herself in 2009, took to the stage with the cast of the West End’s <em>Les Miserables</em> for a performance of the song ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ - the same one she auditioned with when she was a competitor. </p> <p>And fans were treated to one more song, with the ensemble joining Boyle for a rendition of ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’ too. </p> <p>Once the crowd’s delighted applause had quietened, Britain’s Got Talent hosts Ant and Dec approached Boyle, gushing over her as they welcomed her back to the stage. </p> <p>“It is so lovely to see you,” Dec declared. “It’s hard to believe you appeared on this show in 2009 - fourteen years ago. How does it feel to be back at <em>BGT</em>?” </p> <p>“It feels great,” Susan told him, to further cheering from the audience. </p> <p>She went on to share that the whole affair was “extra special” to her, before revealing that “last April there, I suffered a minor stroke.”</p> <p>The theatre was quiet, everyone taken by surprise, before Boyle announced that she’d “fought like crazy to get back on stage, and I have done it.”</p> <p>As Dec shared that they were “thrilled” to hear of her triumphant return, cheers rang out once again, and applause echoed throughout the room in celebration of Boyle. </p> <p>When judge Simon Cowell - who was present for Boyle’s audition as well - was asked how it felt to see her back on the stage, he noted that it was “unbelievable”. </p> <p>“Susan, we owe you so much,” he said, “and I knew you weren't well, but if anyone was going to come back, you were going to come back, because we wouldn't be the same without you. You are amazing."</p> <p>And when clips from her performance, and following reveal, made it online, fans wasted no time in sharing their love and support for the singer. </p> <p>“Huge huge respect for Susan Boyle,” one wrote. “Post stroke and absolutely smashing it on BGT tonight! Incredible!”</p> <p>“Good for her! Great to see her back!” another said. “Never ever be defined by an illness or disability. Never.”</p> <p>“Aww! Susan Boyle is an absolute superstar in every sense of the word, so humble,” one gushed. “It’s so good to see her back with her microphone!”</p> <p>And as someone else put it, “bless Susan Boyle, she spent her entire life not realising her full potential as a West End singer, to then go on to be one of the biggest stars to come out of #BGT. Her performance tonight had passion; she has real HEART and her having a stroke last year - what a FIGHTER!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">⭐ STAGEY SMILE OF THE DAY ⭐</p> <p>Here's Lucie Jones &amp; Susan Boyle performing "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Misérables, for the BGT grand final 🇫🇷 ✨ X x x <a href="https://t.co/nmIB5eo29c">pic.twitter.com/nmIB5eo29c</a></p> <p>— Theatre Fan (@ShaunTossell) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaunTossell/status/1665467122053443586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

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"It was a loud wake-up call": Aaron Sorkin's serious health scare

<p dir="ltr">Award-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin has revealed he suffered a stroke last November.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with <em>The New York Times</em>, the 61-year-old, who holds three Golden Globes and five Emmys, said the experience was so intense it made him think he might never work again.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There was a minute when I was concerned that I was never going to be able to write again," Sorkin said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin revealed that the stroke occurred two months before rehearsals for his upcoming musical – a re-written version of <em>Camelot</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>West Wing</em> creator said that the symptoms showed up in the middle of the night when he realised that he kept crashing into walls on his way to the kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The symptoms carried on the next day, when he found himself continually spilling a glass of orange juice in his home office.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he went to the doctors they said his blood pressure was so high, he was "supposed to be dead".</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin also shared that he’s still suffering from the side effects as he hasn’t been able to taste food properly since the stroke.</p> <p dir="ltr">A month after the stroke, Sorkin struggled to type and was slurring his words, it’s only recently that he finally built up the coordination to be able to sign his name again.</p> <p dir="ltr">The director shared that the stroke has led him to make some major lifestyle changes.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Mostly it was a loud wake-up call," he said. "I thought I was one of those people who could eat whatever he wanted, smoke as much as he wanted, and it's not going to affect me. Boy, was I wrong," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorkin has since given up smoking, works out twice a day and has incorporated a healthier diet. "I take a lot of medicine. You can hear the pills rattling around in me," he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">The screenwriter is currently preparing for the opening of his new musical, <em>Camelot</em>, which is his fourth Broadway production.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Not “your average beanie”: Smart Aussie invention to help stroke and trauma patients

<p dir="ltr">A new ‘smart helmet’ packed with tech is being developed to monitor brains of patients who have suffered a stroke, injury or trauma by a team of Australian scientists and developers thanks to funding from the Victorian government.</p> <p dir="ltr">Patients with these kinds of injuries often experience brain swelling and have parts of their skull removed to prevent the brain from pushing on structures such as the brainstem, the part of the brain that regulates the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/brain-drowns-in-its-own-fluid-after-a-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which can be fatal</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The SkullPro, developed by Anatomics Pty Ltd and the CSIRO, is a customised protective helmet that includes sensors that relay data back to the patient’s neurosurgeon to help them determine the best time to repair the skull.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the helmet, the conditions of patients’ brains can be monitored while they recover at home.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c30fb9f0-7fff-5de6-6b83-53be40564edb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Neurosurgeons can monitor their brain function in real time thanks to a ‘brain machine interface’ developed using machine learning, advanced sensors and microelectronics.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDApuNgj68s/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDApuNgj68s/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anatomics (@anatomicsrx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Anatomics’ development of the helmet would be among 11 Victorian medical technology products funded through the latest round of MedTech grants.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This isn’t your average beanie. This is a Smart Helmet,” Mr Andrews <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/posts/pfbid02SJfjW1BcypXz8ubJHtQUTPvG349spbWAch4Eib1nguHedjAH1fFhWg4DaPJ9V5kNl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It helps monitor the brains of patients who've had a stroke or suffered traumatic brain injury. It lets doctors know how the brain is healing and helps surgeons decide on the ideal time to perform operations on the skull to give patients the best possible chance of a full recovery. It's been researched, designed and manufactured right here in Bentleigh East by Anatomics.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It's the kind of technology that doesn't just save lives – it changes lives too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Andrews added that the series of grants would help support “Victorian innovation” and create jobs.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We're backing Anatomics and 11 other Victorian medical technology manufacturers with a new round of MedTech grants. Creating jobs and supporting Victorian innovation,” the post continued.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c713391-7fff-9b9e-2205-2217707d9715"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“That's something we can all get behind.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xqoDDnORs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xqoDDnORs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anatomics (@anatomicsrx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The team developing the SkullPro hope it will lay the foundation for research relating to brain injuries, diagnostics, and treatments in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a <a href="https://www.anatomics.com/au/news/2020/07/24/smart-skullpro.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Professor Paul D’Urso, a neurosurgeon and the founder of Anatomics, said the grant would “greatly benefit brain injured patients throughout the world”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The recently announced funding through MTPConnect’s BioMedTech Horizons program will allow Anatomics and CSIRO to lay the foundations for advanced diagnostics and therapies for decades to come that will greatly benefit brain injured patients through-out the world,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We should all be proud of the pioneering R&amp;D (Research &amp; Development) that has already occurred in Australia and the opportunities that this grant will deliver to our future."</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bb14f8a1-7fff-b6d7-650f-abcedbfc94fc"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @anatomicsrx (Instagram)</em></p>

Mind

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With the strokes of a guitar solo, Joni Mitchell showed us how our female music elders are super punks

<p>The iconic Joni Mitchell’s recent surprise performance at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxiluPSmAF8&amp;feature=youtu.be">2022 Newport Folk Festival</a> prompted a world-wide outpouring of love and respect. </p> <p>This was her first musical performance since suffering from a brain aneurysm in 2015 that left her unable to walk and talk. Last year, she spoke of having <a href="https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/joni-mitchell-addresses-health-issues-in-rare-speech-at-2021-kennedy-center-honors-3112447">polio as a child</a> as “a rehearsal for the rest of my life”. </p> <p>The tributes for Mitchell celebrated her triumph from illness to recovery, but they also paid homage to Mitchell’s career that has pivoted on protest. </p> <p>Mitchell is largely associated with folk scenes of the 60s and 70s. She has produced a prolific body of work, advocating for social change. As a committed activist she has spoken against environmental degradation, war, LGBTQI+ discrimination, and most recently, removed <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/29/22907696/joni-mitchell-spotify-joe-rogan-podcast-misinformation-covid-19">her music catalogue</a> from Spotify in a protest against anti-vaccine propaganda. </p> <p>Now, with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7wOdpxGctc">strokes of a guitar solo</a> she repositioned herself from folk hero to punk provocateur, defying the “permissible” ways older women “should” behave. </p> <p>In commanding public space and using one of the most traditionally masculinised expressions of popular music practice, she directly challenged the sorts of expectations many people have around gendered norms, particularly what women in their elder years look and sound like.</p> <h2>Not everyone gets to age on stage</h2> <p>Some of the most persistent social restrictions placed on women and gender diverse musicians are in relation to age. </p> <p>Ongoing expectations of older women are to be passive, quiet and very much in the background. They are rarely asked, or expected, to “take up space” in the same ways their male counterparts do. </p> <p>Whereas men step through phases of youthful experimentation into established music legends, there are tiresome obstacles for female and gender diverse people to do the same. </p> <p>And while exceptions are often exceptional, they are not plentiful.</p> <p>It’s not just age. Women have long been sidelined when it comes to acknowledging their skills on the electric guitar. Much like Mitchell.</p> <p>The electric guitar has been an important part of rock and punk genres. There is a symbiotic relationship between how these genres – and the instrumentation that defines them – have unwittingly become gendered. The electric guitar solo in particular has come to be associated with machismo: fast, loud, expert, brave. </p> <p>If you like to imagine a world where women don’t exist, google “best guitar solos ever”. </p> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/04/02/opinion/grammys-rock-guitar-solo.html">New York Times article</a> suggested things are starting to change. Citing guitarists like Taja Cheek and Adrianne Lenker, the Times suggested the guitar solo has shifted from a macho institution into a display of vulnerability, a moment (perhaps many) of connectivity. </p> <p>Mitchell’s performance sits somewhere in this domain. </p> <p>For the hundreds of thousands of women and gender diverse guitarists world-wide, myself included, the electric guitar and the genres it is entwined with offer a cool, optional extra: to test the cultural norms of gender with other markers of identity like class, culture, sexuality and age, to blur ideas of what we should and shouldn’t do.</p> <h2>Australian women to the front</h2> <p>Australian women and gender diverse rock and punk musicians are often subject to a double act of erasure – missing from localised histories, and also from broader canons of contemporary music, which often remain persistently rooted in the traditions of the UK and the US.</p> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55669013-my-rock-n-roll-friend">Tracey Thorn’s brilliant biography</a> of the Go-Between’s drummer Lindy Morrison is a love lettered homage that steps out the complex local, emotional, personal and structural ways that Australian women and gender diverse people are often omitted from cultural spaces. </p> <p>“We are patronised and then we vanish,” writes Thorn.</p> <p>The work of women and gender diverse artists is often compared to the glossy pedestal of the male creative genius.</p> <p>In this light, we don’t play right, we don’t look right, we don’t sound right. </p> <p>And then, somehow, we don’t age right. </p> <p>Other reasons are far more mundane. Women contribute around <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/blog/economics-blog/2019/Value-unpaid-work-care.html">13 hours more unpaid work</a> than men each week. </p> <p>Carrying plates overflowing with generous gifts of labour, the maintenance of a music practice – a largely underpaid endeavour – is often the first to fall by the wayside. </p> <p>Add to the mix ingrained social networks of knowledge sharing, and the dominance of men making decisions higher up the chain, and it is easy to see how women and gender diverse musicians stay submerged as men rise to the limited real estate of music elders. </p> <p>The problem isn’t so much about starting up. It’s about finding the time to keep up.</p> <h2>Our female and gender diverse music elders</h2> <p>There are so many Australian female and gender diverse music elders. Some are visible, but many ripple beneath the surface. </p> <p>Regardless of genre, in maintaining decades-long practice, they are the super punks whose legacy can be heard in venues across the country. </p> <p>The challenge now is to support the current crop of excellent musicians beyond the flushes of youth so that we have a more sustainable, textured and diverse Australian music culture. One where Mitchell’s defiance of expectations represents the status quo of how older women should and can be.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-the-strokes-of-a-guitar-solo-joni-mitchell-showed-us-how-our-female-music-elders-are-super-punks-188075" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Music

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Australian women are less likely to receive pre-hospital stroke care than men

<p>Paramedics are failing to recognise strokes in women as much as they do for men, according to a new <a href="https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/women-less-likely-receive-pre-hospital-stroke-care-men" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> of New South Wales stroke patients. Researchers suggest that clinician sex bias might be the cause.</p> <p>In 2018 it was <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/heart-stroke-and-vascular-disease-and-subtypes/stroke" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimated</a> that 387,000 Australians aged over 15 years had experienced a stroke at some point in their lives. The success of treatment is very time dependent, so it’s critical that patients suffering from stroke are identified as soon as possible, preferably before arriving at hospital.</p> <p>But according to the study by Australian researchers, women (aged under 70) suffering with stroke were less likely than men to receive stroke care management prior to hospital admission – despite being more likely to arrive at hospital by ambulance.</p> <p>This is concerning, as other research shows stroke outcomes are <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31719135/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generally worse</a> for women than men – with greater stroke-related disability and poorer subsequent quality of life.</p> <p>“Our study suggests that better recognition of stroke symptoms in women by ambulance staff could ensure the right treatment is started as early as possible and give them the best opportunity for recovery,” says lead author Dr Xia Wang, research fellow at The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney.</p> <p>There are two types of stroke: ischaemic stroke occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked, and haemorrhagic stroke occurs when one ruptures and begins to bleed. This can cause parts of the brain to die – resulting in impairment that can affect things like speech, movement, and communication – or can often be fatal.</p> <p>Thanks to development in medical research <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">treatment for stroke</a> is changing, but the efficacy of these treatments is highly time-dependent and rapid and accurate pre-hospital assessment is critical for successful outcomes.</p> <p>“When stroke is not recognised early, delays can have serious consequences,” says co-author Dr Cheryl Carcel, senior research fellow and academic lead of the George Institute’s Global Brain Health Initiative.</p> <p>“Procedures for in-ambulance stroke care ensure patients with stroke symptoms are brought to a high-level specialised facility quickly to receive life-saving treatment.”</p> <p>In a population-based cohort study, researchers analysed data from more than  200,0000 patients (51% women) admitted to NSW hospitals between July 2005 and December 2018 and subsequently diagnosed as having a stroke.</p> <p>Just over half of all stroke patients were taken to hospital via ambulance, with women (52.4%) more likely than men (47.9%) to arrive this way.</p> <p>Despite this, women were less likely to receive stroke care management prior to hospital admission.</p> <p>“Among patients under 70 years of age, women were less likely than men to be assessed by paramedics as having a stroke, but there was no significant difference for older patients,” the authors say.</p> <p>Instead, they were more frequently assessed by paramedics as having conditions which mimic stroke – like headache or migraine, anxiety, and unconsciousness – which contributed to a delay in the recognition and treatment of stroke.</p> <p>There was no significant difference for older patients.</p> <p>Health professionals know that on initial presentation, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31114842/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atypical clinical symptoms of stroke</a> occur more frequently in women. So, these findings could be due to a difference in symptoms, although it’s also possible that implicit sex bias exists amongst healthcare providers.</p> <p>“While there aren’t any studies looking at clinician sex bias in stroke, we have evidence from other countries where it is happening in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3810172/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronary artery disease</a>,” explains Carcel.</p> <p>This has also been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002870321001885?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">found</a> to be the case for myocardial infarction (heart attack), with women less likely to be assessed by paramedics as having MI than men.</p> <p>“Greater awareness among all health professionals about differences in symptom presentation between men and women could help address this bias,” concludes Carcel. “In the case of stroke, this is particularly important for ambulance staff, so that women are identified early and treatment is commenced even before they reach the hospital.”</p> <p>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/australian-women-stroke-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos</a>. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Does your heart skip a beat? You could be at a higher risk of a stroke

<p dir="ltr">One in three Australians over the age of 50, or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27798365/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in 20 New Zealanders</a> aged 55 or older, will develop Atrial Fibrillation - an irregular or rapid heartbeat which ups their risk of strokes and heart failure.</p> <p dir="ltr">But many, like marriage celebrant Maryann Bawden, will have no idea until something happens.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When the doctors asked me to shift over a little on the bed, I realised I was completely paralysed down my left side,” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b8851d47-7fff-1f46-3531-42bb9c39e40f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In Maryanne’s case, she suffered a stroke and was in intensive care for four days, where staff realised she had Atrial Fibrillation (AF).</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/atrial-fib1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Maryanne Bawden (left) had no idea she had Atrial Fibrillation until after she was hospitalised for a stroke. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a surreal moment. I had no emotions at the time, just a detached curiosity that my body wasn’t functioning properly,” Maryanne said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It felt very matter of fact, with no correlation between the seriousness and the actual situation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Professor Ben Freedman, the Deputy Director of Cardiovascular Research at the <a href="https://www.hri.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heart Research Institute</a>, says the number of Australians who will unknowingly suffer from AF is set to increase by 150 percent over the next four decades.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One in three people aged over 50 will develop AF - the issue is, most people have never heard of it, and that’s problematic because it means they don’t know how to ask their doctor to check for it,” Professor Freedman explains.</p> <p dir="ltr">Symptoms include an irregular pulse, heart palpitations or a “fluttering” heartbeat, and feeling tired, dizzy or weak.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-96c09322-7fff-4e6b-ba47-e70456d485d9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“However, people often have no symptoms at all or only experience symptoms some of the time,” he says.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/atrial-fib2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Professor Ben Freedman (centre), and two members of his team - Dr Katrina Giskes (left), and Dr Nicole Lowres (right) - hope to prove that regular ECG screening will decrease morbidity from Atrial Fibrillation. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“People can live suffering these small, silent strokes and they don’t even know they are having them. But while they might not notice them, over time they cause a cognitive decline.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Professor Freedman also heads - and founded - the <a href="https://www.afscreen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AF-SCREEN International Collaboration</a>, a global group of scientists that includes many of the foremost names in AF research.</p> <p dir="ltr">One way to catch AF before a person experiences a stroke or heart failure is by using electrocardiograms (ECGs), and Professor Freedman will be looking to prove that more intensive ECG screening will prevent strokes, morbidity, and death.</p> <p dir="ltr">Over the next five years, Professor Freedman and his team will be measuring AF in Australians over the age of 70 with a handheld device to prove that this screening helps.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We need to increase awareness of AF, as only 11 percent of people over the age of 65 are being regularly screened for AF by their GP despite it being a very simple test,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Almost everyone who turns 65 should be getting a yearly pulse check. Cost isn’t a factor - anyone can afford a pulse check.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e9d83005-7fff-6692-b959-28309fe982e3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though only a doctor can diagnose you with AF, you can keep an eye on your heart health by regularly checking your pulse and keeping a record of your results.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/Picture12.png" alt="" width="508" height="508" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">A resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, and although a pause or extra beat every now and then is normal, you should speak to your doctor if it is quite irregular.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6cefb02a-7fff-82f4-b132-77e195a3d19f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Body

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Stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases more likely for those with poor mental health

<p><a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-welfare-services/mental-health-services/overview">Four million Australians</a>, including our friends, family members, co-workers and neighbours, are living with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.vu.edu.au/australian-health-policy-collaboration/publications#chronic-diseases">new report out today</a> from the <a href="https://www.vu.edu.au/australian-health-policy-collaboration">Australian Health Policy Collaboration</a> has found these four million Australians are at much greater risk of chronic physical disease and much greater risk of early death.</p> <p>Having a mental health condition increases the risk of every major chronic disease. Heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, back pain, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and cancer are all much more likely to occur among people with anxiety and depression. </p> <p>More than 2.4 million people have both a mental and at least one physical health condition.</p> <p>For the first time in Australia, this report quantifies the extent of this problem. For example, people with mental health conditions are more likely to have a circulatory system disease (that is, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke). The likelihood increases by 52% for men, and 41% for women.</p> <p>More than a million people are affected by both a circulatory system disease and a mental health condition. These diseases are Australia’s biggest killers.</p> <p>For painful, debilitating conditions such as arthritis and back pain, the numbers are even higher. Arthritis is 66% more likely for men with mental health conditions, and 46% more likely for women, with 959,000 people affected.</p> <p>Back pain is 74% more likely for men with mental health conditions, and 68% more likely for women, with more than a million affected.</p> <p>The gender differences are significant. Women with mental health conditions are much more likely to have asthma than women across Australia as a whole (70% more likely), while men are 49% more likely to have asthma with a mental health condition.</p> <p>The biggest gender difference is cancer. Men with mental health conditions are 84% more likely to have cancer than the general population, and for women the figure is 20%.</p> <p>As more women live with mental health conditions than men, overall, women are 23% more likely to be living with both a mental and physical health condition than men.</p> <p>The report shows having a co-existing mental health condition and chronic physical disease generally results in worse quality of life, greater functional decline, needing to use more health care and higher healthcare costs. </p> <p>These people require more treatment, use more medications, and have to spend more time, energy and money managing their health. People with a mental health condition are also <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60240-2/abstract">more likely to be poorer</a>, less likely to work, less likely to receive health screening and, sadly, <a href="https://www.rethink.org/media/810988/Rethink%20Mental%20Illness%20-%20Lethal%20Discrimination.pdf">more likely to receive substandard care</a> for their physical diseases.</p> <p>On average, people with mental health conditions die younger than the general population, and mostly from preventable conditions. We know from <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2539">earlier research</a>that people with severe mental illnesses die much earlier than the rest of the population. Our report shows even common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression contribute to more chronic disease, leading to higher rates of early death.</p> <h2>Why?</h2> <p>We don’t know exactly why people with mental health conditions have poorer physical health. The <a href="https://acmedsci.ac.uk/policy/policy-projects/multimorbidity">Academy of Medical Sciences</a> has identified that poor mental health and psychosocial risk factors such as feeling dissatisfied with life, not feeling calm, having sleep problems that affect work, and financial concerns can predict physical disease.</p> <p>Other factors, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/low-income-earners-are-more-likely-to-die-early-from-preventable-diseases-87676">low socioeconomic status</a>, poor social networks, living in rural areas and smoking are associated with both poor mental health and poor physical health.</p> <p>We do know people with mental health conditions often don’t receive advice about healthy lifestyles, don’t get common tests for disease, and are less likely to receive treatment for disease. Some of this is due to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21379357">stigma and discrimination</a>, and sometimes it’s neglect. People with mental health conditions can <a href="https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Publications/RANZCP-Serious-Mental-Illness.aspx">fall through the gaps between disjointed physical and mental health systems</a>. </p> <h2>What can we do about it?</h2> <p>There is <a href="https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Publications/RANZCP-Keeping-body-and-mind-together.aspx">momentum for change</a> among the mental health sector, with dozens of organisations signing up to the <a href="https://equallywell.org.au/">Equally Well</a> consensus statement. This aims to improve the quality of life of people living with mental illness by providing equal access to quality health care. </p> <p>There’s some great work being done around the country, including in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/inm.12459">Hunter region</a>, where people with mental health conditions can access tailored help with physical health risk factors such as smoking and diet.</p> <p>People using mental health services should have their physical health regularly assessed, and any problems addressed as early as possible. Better coordination of care would preserve healthcare resources and improve quality of life.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/stroke-cancer-and-other-chronic-diseases-more-likely-for-those-with-poor-mental-health-100955" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Mind

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Best stroke: Microswimmers that can deliver drugs around the body

<p>Picture an artificial cell: a self-propelling mixture of chemicals, somewhere between a thousandth and a tenth of a millimetre in size, able to travel around the body delivering medicines.</p> <p>This could become a reality with microswimmers – micrometre-sized blobs of liquid that can move independently, thanks to either chemical or physical mechanisms. There are plenty of naturally occurring microswimmers, but researchers have begun to tune artificial ones to do more interesting jobs.</p> <p>Artificial microswimmers can be very simple – last year, a group of researchers published a method for microswimmers you could <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/almost-home-made-microswimmers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">make at home</a> (provided you have a pipette and a microscope). But more complex “microrobots” have even more potential.</p> <p>Last month, for instance, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Germany, announced they’d developed light-powered microswimmers that can move through biological fluids.</p> <p>The researchers’ microswimmers are made from a porous substance called poly(heptazine imide) carbon nitride. This material comprises organic (carbon-containing) molecules linked together in a flat sheet, making it a “two-dimensional” <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/explainer-what-is-a-polymer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymer</a>.</p> <p>The microswimmers can be propelled forwards by light, and can also be triggered to release chemicals they’re holding – making them prime targets for drug delivery.</p> <p>Light-powered microswimmers aren’t an entirely new concept, though it had previously been tricky to make them work in biological environments.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p182933-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p>“The use of light as the energy source of propulsion is very convenient when doing experiments in a petri dish or for applications directly under the skin,” says co-author Filip Podjaski.</p> <p>“There is just one problem: even tiny concentrations of salts prohibit light-controlled motion. Salts are found in all biological liquids – in blood, cellular fluids, digestive fluids etc.”</p> <p>But these microswimmers can move in even the most saline liquids. Podjaski says this is because of the porous nature of the material, as well as its light sensitivity.</p> <p>“In addition, in this material, light favours the mobility of ions, making the particle even faster,” he says.</p> <p>Currently, the microswimmers can release drugs in very acidic environments, but the researchers are still looking for other release mechanisms they can use. Artificial microswimmers are a long way from drug delivery or use in humans, but they’ve got plenty of exciting potential.</p> <p>“We hope to inspire many smart minds to find even better ways for controlling microrobots and designing a responsive function to the benefit of our society,” says co-author Metin Sitti.</p> <p>The findings were <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abm1421" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in <em>Science Robotics.</em></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=182933&amp;title=Best+stroke%3A+Microswimmers+that+can+deliver+drugs+around+the+body" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/materials/microswimmers-targeted-drug-delivery-light/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/ellen-phiddian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ellen Phiddian</a>. Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Body

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Betty White's real cause of death leaked

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>The New York Post is now reporting that the official cause of death of iconic TV star Betty White was a ‘cerebrovascular accident’.</p> <p>The medical term for a stroke, listed on a death certificate obtained by entertainment news outlet TMZ on Monday, occurred six days prior to Ms White's passing, and is caused by a loss of blood flow to areas of the brain, which can result in serious tissue damage.</p> <p><br />While it's not clear if Ms White underwent any behavioural or emotional changes between the time of her stroke and her death on New Year's Eve, her agent and close friend, Jeff Witjas, said in a statement to<span> </span><em>People<span> </span></em>that “Betty died peacefully in her sleep at her home.”</p> <p>Witjas also denied that Ms White’s death was at all related to her receiving her COVID-19 booster shot just days before.</p> <p>“People are saying her death was related to getting a booster shot three days earlier, but that is not true. She died of natural causes,” he told<span> </span><em>People</em>, adding, “Her death should not be politicised — that is not the life she lived.”</p> <p><br />As it had been previously reported, White’s <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/betty-white-s-final-words">last word</a> before she died was her late husband Allen Ludden’s first name.</p> <p><br />Witjas later confirmed her death, telling People, “Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever.</p> <p><br />“I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband, Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again.”</p>

Caring

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Salt substitute leads to fewer strokes and heart attacks

<div class="copy"> <p>A reduced-sodium, potassium-rich ‘salt substitute’ reduces rates of stroke, heart attack and death, according to a new <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2105675" target="_blank">study</a> published in <em>The New England Journal of Medicine. </em></p> <p>Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health showed that a salt substitute with more potassium chloride and less sodium chloride – the ‘normal’ table salt – leads to lower blood pressure and reduced heart problems, with no harmful effects.</p> <p>“Almost everyone in the world eats more salt than they should,’’ says lead author Bruce Neal. “Switching to a salt substitute is something that everyone could do if salt substitutes were on the supermarket shelves.</p> <p>“Better still, while salt substitutes are a bit more expensive than regular salt, they’re still very low-cost – just a few dollars a year to make the switch.</p> <p>“As well as showing clear benefits for important health outcomes, our study also allays concerns about possible risks.  We saw no indication of any harm from the added potassium in the salt substitute. Certainly, patients with serious kidney disease should not use salt substitutes, but they need to keep away from regular salt as well.” </p> <p>The study was conducted with 21,000 adults with a history of stroke or blood-pressure issues from 600 rural Chinese villages in 2014/15. For those using the low-sodium salt, the team found that incidents of stroke dropped by 14%, total cardiovascular events (including heart attack) dropped by 13% and premature deaths dropped by 12%.</p> <p>They also showed that the price difference between table salt and the substitute was low – $1.48 per kilogram for regular salt compared to $2.22 per kilogram for low-sodium salt.</p> <p>‘’Last year, a modelling study done for China suggested that about 400,000 premature deaths might be prevented each year by national uptake of salt substitute,” says Neal. “Our results now confirm this. If salt was switched for salt substitute worldwide, there would be several million premature deaths prevented every year.  </p> <p>“This is quite simply the single-most worthwhile piece of research I’ve ever been involved with.  Switching table salt to salt substitute is a highly feasible and low-cost opportunity to have a massive global health benefit.”</p> <p>Because of this result, the researchers have urged salt manufactures to switch to low-sodium salt, and for governments to make policies that promote salt substitutes.</p> <em>Image credits: Shutterstock           <!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=163351&amp;title=Salt+substitute+leads+to+fewer+strokes+and+heart+attacks" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication -->          </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/salt-substitute-fewer-strokes-heart-attacks/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Deborah Devis. </em></p> </div>

Body

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"My little mate": Ben Fordham shares devastating loss

<p>Ben Fordham has broken down in tears live on his breakfast radio show while discussing a heartbreaking loss in his family. </p> <p>Ben announced the death of his "little mate" Luca, <span>the five-year-old son of his cousin Tori, on <em>Ben Fordham Live</em> on Tuesday morning. </span></p> <p><span>After suffering an unexpected stroke in November 2020, Luca has been at the Children's Hospital in Randwick. </span></p> <p><span>"I have been steeling myself to say this," Fordham started, already fighting back tears.</span></p> <p><span>Ben said he "had a little bit of personal news", after he had previously spoke about Luca's ongoing condition. </span><span></span></p> <p><span>"He's my little mate who's five years of age and he's the only child of my beautiful cousin Tori," Fordham continued.</span></p> <p><span>"Sadly Luca has passed away over the weekend, and I want to tell you a little bit about what's happened to Luca," he said, pausing to fight back tears. </span></p> <p><span>"And I'm gonna do my best to keep it together because it's obviously very sad." </span></p> <p><span>Luca suffered the stroke on November 29th 2020, on Ben's birthday, just one day after he was fit and healthy after being </span><span>at Fordham's mother's house "swimming with his cousins in the swimming pool".</span></p> <p><span>"The next day he was running along kicking a soccer ball, and the next thing his legs just gave out from underneath him and he was airlifted from Wollongong to Sydney, where he went to the children's hospital and it was discovered he'd suffered a stroke," Fordham continued.</span></p> <p><span>Ben said Luca suffered a "complete system breakdown" and remained in hospital fighting for his life until his death at the weekend.</span></p> <p><span>"His mum Tori, who's a single mum with a lot of help from my mum and my sister, have been doing everything they can to get the best medical advice from around the world and that's been assisted in a great way by the children's hospital at Randwick," he continued.</span></p> <p><span>"But there was just nothing they could do for him in the end, and he had several moments over the last year where things got very, very difficult for him because he'd get sick in hospital. He didn't have the strength to fight it."</span></p> <p><span>Ben shared that he was visiting Luca on Saturday </span>morning because "we knew his life was coming to an end".</p> <p><span>"And he died on Saturday afternoon," Fordham shared.</span></p> <p><span>Ben went on to thank the dedicated staff at Sydney Children's Hospital who did everything they could for Luca, before listing the names of some of the medical professionals who cared for Luca personally. </span></p> <p><span>The radio host ended by praising his cousin Tori, saying, "How you've done it, we've got no idea."</span></p> <p><span>Ben also shared the news to his Instagram account with several photos of Luca. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUoQAXoBC2_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUoQAXoBC2_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ben Fordham (@benfordham9)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>In his caption, he said, "We’ll miss Luca terribly and plan to farewell him on October 25th which would have been his 6th birthday."</span></p> <p><span>He continued, "We send our love to all the other families who have kids stuck in hospital.</span></p> <p><span>"Hang in there and hold them tight."</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram @benfordham9</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Barty's brilliantly blunt take on Tokyo heat

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the weather in Tokyo reached the mid-30s, many players have been complaining about being forced to play at the peak of the heat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, Aussie tennis star Ash Barty had no qualms about the inclement weather and gave a blunt response when asked for her opinion on the conditions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’re Aussies, mate. We’re alright,” she told News Corp after her and Storm Sanders’ loss in the women’s doubles against Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, Spain’s Paula Badosa was taken off the court in a wheelchair after collapsing from heat exhaustion during her quarter-final match against Marketa Vondrousova.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Suspect scenes like these may have played a part in the decision of Olympic organisers to take tennis out of the worst of the heat.<br /><br />Paula Badosa taken off court in a wheelchair with heat exhaustion. <a href="https://t.co/I6GZ4Uq7KY">pic.twitter.com/I6GZ4Uq7KY</a></p> — James Gray (@jamesgraysport) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesgraysport/status/1420352664236404739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was a shame to finish my participation in this way,” Badosa said. “The conditions have been demanding from day one. We tried to adapt as best as possible but today the body has not responded as needed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I have suffered a heat stroke as you all have seen and I did not feel ready to continue.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Russian Daniil Medvedev also struggled with the soaring temperatures during his third round win over Fabio Fognini.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Medvedev took two medical timeouts and asked who would be responsible for his death.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I can finish the match but I can die,” he told chair umpire Carlos Ramos when asked if he could continue. “If I die, are you going to be responsible?”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Still alive🥵 <a href="https://twitter.com/Tokyo2020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/xEJqMGUNsq">pic.twitter.com/xEJqMGUNsq</a></p> — Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaniilMedwed/status/1420306048758554629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I just had darkness in my eyes, like between every point I didn’t know what to do to feel better.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was bending over and I couldn’t get my breathing together. I was ready to just fall down on the court.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After complaints from world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and several other plays, organisers have since moved the start of play to 3pm local time to offer players some added protection against the heat.</span></p>

News

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Losing speech after a stroke can negatively affect mental health – but therapy can provide hope

<p>Around <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1804492">25% of adults</a> will have a stroke in their lifetime. And <a href="https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(16)30041-7/fulltext">around one-third</a> of stroke survivors will be left with damage to the part of their brain that decodes and organises language – leaving them with a disability known as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02687038.2020.1852003">aphasia</a>. Aphasia can affect speaking and understanding as well as reading and writing abilities, but does not affect intelligence. It can vary in severity from getting a few words mixed up, to being unable to say any words.</p> <p>Aphasia can be a difficult and frustrating disability to live with, and can disrupt many aspects of a person’s life – including relationships, holding down a job, and social activities. As such, depression is common, affecting an <a href="https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/16107">estimated two-thirds</a> of people with aphasia. Yet many people with aphasia <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02687038.2019.1673304">struggle to access</a> the psychological support they need – psychological therapies, or “talk therapies”, can feel inaccessible to someone with a language disability.</p> <p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10497323211020290">Our research</a> explored how psychological therapy could be made to work for people with aphasia. Working with speech and language therapists, mental health professionals and stroke survivors, we adapted a form of psychological therapy so that it was accessible for people with aphasia. We found that this form of therapy was valued by people with aphasia, and could make a positive difference in their lives.</p> <p><strong>Accessible therapy</strong></p> <p>The therapy that we delivered to our research participants was adapted from a form of psychological therapy called “<a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203116562/solution-focused-brief-therapy-harvey-ratner-evan-george-chris-iveson">solution-focused brief therapy</a>”. This form of therapy supports a person in building meaningful change in their everyday lives. It invites people to describe their hopes for the future, and explores their skills, talents and resources to support them in when adapting to their new circumstances. It also gives them a chance to discuss their experiences and thoughts.</p> <p>Thirty people with post-stroke aphasia received the therapy in our study. Fourteen of our participants had severe aphasia, while 16 had milder aphasia. They were all at least six months post-stroke – and some were as many as 12 years post-stroke. Participants were offered up to six therapy sessions, each of about an hour, spaced over three months. The therapy was delivered by speech and language therapists who had received specific training and supervision from experts in solution-focused brief therapy.</p> <p>To make the therapy accessible, we made sure that the therapists worked closely with participants to help them communicate their thoughts and feelings, using whatever method they could – so as well as talking, participants communicated through drawing, gestures, pictures, objects, mime, or writing key words. Although their intelligence was not affected, many participants found it harder to understand language when spoken rapidly.</p> <p>To support participants’ understanding, therapists used simpler language, slowed their pace of speech and supported communication visually such as by writing key words, or using gestures or pictures. Above all, the therapists gave people time – time to express their thoughts and time to process what the therapist was saying.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/406699/original/file-20210616-3629-1d6qq4s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="A young man reads a book with an elderly woman." /> <span class="caption">Participants communicated using whatever method they could.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-male-nurse-spending-time-elder-300626726" class="source">Photographee.eu/ Shutterstock</a></span></p> <p>Therapists encouraged participants to describe what “living well” with their aphasia meant to them. They invited participants to notice small signs of progress and share their successes and achievements with the therapist. These could be seemingly small events, such as making porridge with one hand for the first time, and also profound conversations around how they experienced aphasia, their early times in hospital, or describing the process of recovery and adjusting to their stroke. The therapists invited them to notice their own skills and the resources that they had drawn on, and how they could use these to help them continue to adjust to their new circumstances.</p> <p>Our participants agreed that the therapy worked well for people with aphasia – and that it was important for them (and others with aphasia) to have access to psychological support if needed. Many valued being able to talk about their hopes and achievements, and share how they found living with stroke and aphasia. They also valued the companionship and connection they felt with their therapist.</p> <p>Many participants also described experiencing positive changes in their life after attending therapy – including having the confidence to start using the phone again, doing things they used to do such as cooking dinner, or starting a volunteer role. For some, it gave them courage, and let them feel more like themselves again.</p> <p>Our research shows that even people with a severe language disability can benefit from this therapy when it is adapted specifically for them. A challenge is ensuring that mental health professionals and speech and language therapists have the training, skills and confidence to provide appropriate psychological support for people with aphasia.</p> <p>There are around <a href="https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-aphasia/aphasia-and-its-effects">350,000 people</a> living with aphasia in the UK. Yet <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1460-6984.12204">public awareness</a> of the condition remains low, making it a poorly understood and often lonely disability to live with. If we give people with aphasia the time to express themselves – noticing and valuing them as people, and not just seeing their disability – it can make a real difference in improving their lives.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-northcott-1227983">Sarah Northcott</a>, Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/city-university-of-london-1047">City, University of London</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/losing-speech-after-a-stroke-can-negatively-affect-mental-health-but-therapy-can-provide-hope-160581">original article</a>.</p>

Mind

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Will a vegetarian diet increase your risk of stroke?

<p>A UK study finding vegetarianism is associated with a higher risk of stroke than a meat-eating diet has made <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/vegetarians-and-vegans-at-greater-risk-of-stroke-than-meat-eaters-new-study-reveals-c-436993">headlines</a> around the world.</p> <p>The study, published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4897">British Medical Journal</a>, found people who followed vegetarian or vegan diets had a 20% higher risk of having a stroke compared to those who ate meat.</p> <p>But if you’re a vegetarian, there’s no need to panic. And if you’re a meat eater, these results don’t suggest you should eat more meat.</p> <p>While we don’t fully understand why these results occurred, it’s important to note the study only showed an association between a vegetarian diet and increased stroke risk – not direct cause and effect.</p> <h2>What the study did and found</h2> <p>The researchers looked at 48,188 men and women living in Oxford, following what they ate, and whether they had heart disease or a stroke, over 18 years. The researchers grouped the participants according to their diets: meat eaters, fish eaters (pescatarians) and vegetarians (including vegans).</p> <p>While vegan diets are quite different to vegetarian diets, the investigators combined these two groups as there were very small numbers of vegans in the study.</p> <p>In their analysis, the researchers accounted for variables which are known risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including education level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.</p> <p>They found vegetarians had a 22% lower risk of heart disease than meat eaters. This is equivalent to ten fewer cases of heart disease per 1,000 vegetarians than in meat eaters over ten years.</p> <p>Yet the vegetarians had a 20% higher rate of stroke, equivalent to three more strokes per 1,000 vegetarians compared to the meat eaters over ten years.</p> <p>The decrease in heart disease risk seemed to be linked to lower body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, incidence of diabetes, and blood pressure. These benefits are all known to be associated with a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26853923">healthy vegetarian diet</a>, and are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686931/">protective factors</a> against heart disease.</p> <p>This study showed fish eaters (who did not consume meat) had a 13% lower risk of heart disease, but no significant increase in the rate of stroke when compared to meat eaters.</p> <h2>As with any study, there are strengths and weaknesses</h2> <p>The main strength of this study is that it closely followed a very large group of people over a long period of time.</p> <p>The major weakness is that being an <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-observational-science-randomised-experiments-arent-the-only-way-to-the-truth-49807">observational study</a>, the researchers were not able to determine a cause and effect relationship.</p> <p>So this study is not showing us vegetarian diets <em>lead</em> to increased risk of stroke; it simply tells us vegetarians have an increased risk of stroke. This means the association may be linked to other factors, aside from diet, which may be related to the lifestyle of a vegetarian.</p> <p>And while vegetarian and vegan diets may be seen as generally healthier, vegetarians still may be eating processed and ultra-processed foods. These foods can contain high levels of added salt, trans fat and saturated fats. This study did not report on the whole dietary pattern – just the major food groups.</p> <p>Another major weakness of this study is that vegans and vegetarians were grouped together. Vegetarian and vegan diets can vary considerably in nutrient levels.</p> <h2>So why would the vegetarian group have a higher stroke risk?</h2> <p>These kind of observational studies are unable to provide what scientists call “a mechanism” – that is, a biological explanation as to why this association may exist.</p> <p>But researchers will sometimes offer a potential biological explanation. In this case, they suggest the differences in nutrient intakes between the different diets may go some way to explaining the increased risk of stroke in the vegetarian group.</p> <p>They cite a number of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/32/4/536/666950">Japanese studies</a> which have shown links between a very low intake of animal products and an increased risk of stroke.</p> <p>One nutrient they mention is vitamin B12, as it’s found only in animal products (meat, fish, dairy products and eggs). Vegan sources are limited, though some mushroom varieties and fermented beans <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4042564/">may contain</a> vitamin B12.</p> <p>Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anaemia and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780">neurological issues</a>, including numbness and tingling, and cognitive difficulties.</p> <p>The authors suggest a lack of vitamin B12 may be linked to the increased risk of stroke among the vegetarian group. This deficiency <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19357223">could be present</a> in vegetarians, and even more pronounced in vegans.</p> <p>But this is largely speculative, and any associations between a low intake of animal products and an increased risk of stroke remain to be founded in a strong body of evidence. More research is needed before any recommendations are made.</p> <h2>What does this mean for vegetarians and vegans?</h2> <p>Vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t see this study as a reason to change their diets. This is the only study to date to have shown an increased risk of stroke with vegetarian or vegan diets.</p> <p>Further, this study has shown overall greater benefits are gained by being vegetarian or vegan in its association with reduced risk of heart disease.</p> <p>Meanwhile, other studies have shown meat eaters – particularly people who eat large amounts of red and processed meats – have <a href="https://theconversation.com/confused-about-your-cancer-risk-from-eating-meat-heres-what-the-figures-mean-49888">higher risk</a> of certain cancers.</p> <p> </p> <p>Whether you’re an omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to consider the quality of your diet. Focus on eating whole foods, and including lots of vegetables, fruits, cereals and grains.</p> <p>It’s equally important to minimise the intake of processed foods high in added sugars, salt, saturated and trans fats. Diets high in these sorts of foods <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6320919/">have well-established links</a> to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. <strong>–Evangeline Mantzioris</strong></p> <h2>Blind peer review</h2> <p>The analysis presents a fair and balanced assessment of the study, accurately pointing out that no meaningful recommendations can be drawn from the results. This is particularly so since the majority of the data was collected via self-reported questionnaires, which reduces the reliability of the results.</p> <p>While in many cases the media has reported an increased stroke risk in vegetarians, total stroke risk was not actually statistically different between the groups. The researchers looked at two types of stroke: ischaemic stroke (where a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed) and haemorrhagic stroke (where a blood vessel leaks or breaks).</p> <p>A statistically significant increased risk in the vegetarian group was only seen in haemorrhagic stroke – and even there it’s marginal. Statistically, and in total numbers of people affected, the reduced heart disease risk in the vegetarian group is more convincing. <strong>–Andrew Carey</strong><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123083/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of South Australia</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/will-a-vegetarian-diet-increase-your-risk-of-stroke-123083" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Saxy Lady” wins national award

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynette Gordon-Smith has been recognised for her triumphant return to music after she suffered a stroke in 2017. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She’s won the Creative Award at the Stroke Foundation’s 2019 Stroke Awards.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynette suffered a stroke in 2017, which impacted the use of her right hand and arm and it was devastating for her to learn that she might never play the saxophone again as she has a deep love for the instrument.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve played the saxophone since I was 13 years old and I couldn’t imagine my life without music. I love the joy music brings to others when I perform,” she explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, after hard work and determination in her rehabilitation, the 68-year-old is not only playing, but she’s performing again as well.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m honoured to be the 2019 Creative Award recipient. After my stroke, I had to learn to swallow, walk, talk and use my hand again. It’s been a tough journey, but I was committed to beating the odds,” Lynette said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am truly grateful to the occupational therapists and the allied health team at Warwick Hospital for their support in my rehabilitation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am also passionate about raising awareness of stroke and encouraging other stroke survivors to never give up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan was thrilled for Lynette to win the award.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lynette is an inspiration and her story highlights what can be achieved with persistence and support after stroke,’’ Ms Sanders said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lynette is not only continuing her recovery journey, but helping the broader stroke community by raising awareness and funds for the Stroke Foundation.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynette is currently helping to raise funds for the Stroke Foundation by releasing a CD filled with her saxophone music. </span></p>

Music

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How to survive a stroke

<p><span>When a stroke happens, acting fast is crucial to survival. As the third most common cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Australia, stroke interrupts blood supply to the brain, preventing brain cells from accessing oxygen and nutrients and damaging the brain tissue in the process. </span></p> <p><span>According to <a href="https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/surviving-stroke">Rush University Medical Center</a>, 1.9 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated, increasing the risk of brain damage, disability and death. </span></p> <p><span>The sooner a person receives treatment for stroke, the better the outcome. However, a lack of awareness of early stroke symptoms means that more people may miss out on getting prompt medical attention.</span></p> <p><strong><span>How to recognise the signs of stroke</span></strong></p> <p><span>Not all strokes are sudden and incapacitating – the signs can be subtler than commonly expected. The Stroke Foundation recommends using the FAST test to recognise the main symptoms of stroke:</span></p> <ul> <li>Face: Has their face drooped?</li> <li>Arms: Can they lift both arms? Does one arm drift downward?</li> <li>Speech: Is their speech slurred, and do they understand you?</li> <li>Time: Time is critical. Call the ambulance as soon as you see any of these signs.</li> </ul> <p><span>Other signs of stroke may include:</span></p> <ul> <li>Weakness and/or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body</li> <li>Blurred or loss of vision in one or both eyes</li> <li>Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination</li> </ul> <p><strong><span>What to do</span></strong></p> <p><span>Should you notice any symptoms on yourself or others, call 000 immediately. </span></p> <p><span>Avoid driving yourself to the hospital – while this may seem like a quicker option, lifesaving treatment begins in the ambulance. Paramedics and ambulance workers can screen you on the way and ensure you get the necessary drugs and the most suitable procedures at the emergency department.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Who is at risk?</span></strong></p> <p><span>According to the <a href="https://brainfoundation.org.au/disorders/stroke/#strokeaffectaustralians">Brain Foundation</a>, the risk of stroke may increase for:</span></p> <ul> <li>People with a family history of stroke</li> <li>People with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity</li> <li>Smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers</li> <li>People aged 45 and above</li> </ul> <p><span>Stroke <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/stroke-prevention">can be prevented</a> with a low-fat, high-fibre diet, regular exercise and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.</span></p>

Mind

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Detecting strokes: Here’s what you need to know

<p>After news broke of actor Luke Perry’s death following a “massive stroke” it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms.</p> <p>The 52-year-old <em>Riverdale</em> and <em>Beverly Hills, 90210</em> star passed away on March 4, after suffering a massive stroke late last week.</p> <p>The much loved actor died while surrounded by family and friends. He leaves behind two children, 21-year-old Jack and 18-year-old Sophie, and his fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer.</p> <p>Celebrities and those close to the actor took to Twitter to share their thoughts and well wishes.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">My heart is broken. I will miss you so much Luke Perry. Sending all my love to your family. ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LukePerry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LukePerry</a></p> — Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) <a href="https://twitter.com/MollyRingwald/status/1102631945819713538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 March 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">As a young girl from Hamilton Ontario coming onto the biggest show in the world mid stream, Luke welcomed me from day one. My heart breaks. ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lukeperry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lukeperry</a> #90210 <a href="https://t.co/8QA4SEipqB">pic.twitter.com/8QA4SEipqB</a></p> — kathleen robertson (@kathleenrobert7) <a href="https://twitter.com/kathleenrobert7/status/1102640120539176960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 March 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Luke Perry... you were a joyful and vibrant soul. You will be missed but most certainly your legacy will be remembered forever. Rest in love and peace, friend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Riverdale?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Riverdale</a></p> — Riverdale Writers Room (@RiverdaleWriter) <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverdaleWriter/status/1102634825880547328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 March 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The tragedy has started the conversation on strokes, with the condition being the third most common cause of death in Australia.</p> <p>Each year, close to 40,000 Australians suffer from strokes, with 10,869 resulting in death in the year 2015.</p> <p><strong>What is a stroke?</strong></p> <p>According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/docs/ConsumerEd_Stroke.pdf" target="_blank">Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a><span>, strokes are caused by lack of blood supply to the brain. This can be due to the blood flow being blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or when the vessels in the brain burst (haemorrhagic stroke).</span></p> <p>Other incidents are classified as “brain attacks”, which happen when people suffer from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or otherwise known as “mini strokes”.</p> <p>These occur when there is a blockage of blood flow to the brain. But despite these short incidents only occurring for five minutes, they should be taken seriously as they are indicators for future strokes.</p> <p>When the brain fails to receive an adequate amount of blood flow or oxygen, it can result in permanent disability or death.</p> <p><strong>What are the major symptoms of stroke?</strong></p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Stroke-symptoms" target="_blank">The Stroke Foundation</a> urges everyone to brush up on F.A.S.T.</p> <p>The F.A.S.T test is a simple acronym that helps people understand the symptoms of stroke, and could be the difference between life or death.</p> <p><strong>F:</strong> <strong>Facial drooping or numbness.</strong><span> </span>Ask the person to smile and check for any asymmetries.</p> <p><strong>A:</strong> <strong>Arm weakness.</strong><span> </span>If the person is suffering from a stroke, they may find it difficult to move their arms. Ask them to raise both their arms to see any irregularities.</p> <p><strong>S:</strong> <strong>Slurred Speech.</strong><span> </span>A common symptom of a stroke is slurring of the speech. People may either be talking extremely slow or it may be difficult to understand what they’re saying. Ask the person to repeat phrases several times, but even if their speech returns to normal, be sure to call a doctor regardless.</p> <p><strong>T:</strong><strong> Time to call 000.<span> </span></strong>If the person has any of the above symptoms, then call emergency services immediately.</p> <p><strong>Other symptoms to look out for</strong></p> <p>While F.A.S.T is important to be on top of, there are other symptoms also linked to strokes, such as walking difficulties or understanding conversations.</p> <p>Those who suffer from severe headaches, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, all come under signs of a stroke and should be looked at by a doctor immediately.</p> <p><strong>Who is at risk?</strong></p> <p>Strokes do not discriminate and can happen to anyone at any age, but there are certain factors that make some people more susceptible to the condition than others. People who excessively smoke or consume alcohol, live sedentary lifestyles, have high cholesterol, blood pressure or diabetes have a much higher risk of suffering from a stroke. </p>

Caring

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“Diet” drinks linked to increased risk of dementia and stroke

<p>We all know that too much sugar in our diet is bad for our health, and that includes sugary soft drinks. But many reach for the artificially sweetened ‘diet’ drinks, thinking that it has to be a better choice than sugary soft drinks.</p> <p>It has now been proven that these ‘diet’ drinks are equally bad for our health, if not worse. This is the latest data from the Framingham Heart study in Massachusetts.</p> <p>“We advise that people don’t drink sugary beverages because we know they are associated with a whole range of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes,” said Matthew Pase, a visiting postdoctoral fellow at Boston University School of Medicine and an investigator at the Framingham Heart Study. Pase, who authored the study, said the outcomes of consuming diet drinks with artificial sweeteners can be just as bad.</p> <p>“We found that those people who were consuming diet soda on a daily basis were three times as likely to develop both stroke and dementia within the next 10 years as compared to those who did not drink diet soda,” said Pase. About 4,000 Framingham residents aged 30 or older were monitored for this study.</p> <p>It was found that those who drank sugary drinks showed faster brain ageing and poorer memory function. <span><a href="http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/48/5/1139">The conclusion to this study</a></span> was that "artificially sweetened soft drink consumption was associated with a high risk of stroke and dementia." The artificial sweeteners used in the study were saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose.</p> <p>Aspartame is considered by some to be the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods and drinks. It accounts for more than 75 per cent of the adverse reactions reported to the US FDA, yet the additive is still widely permitted and no warning labelling is required.</p> <p>The range of symptoms and ailments attributed to aspartame in a 1994 Department of Health &amp; Human Services Report  include headaches, migraines, memory loss, dizziness, seizures, numbness, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, slurred speech, tinnitus, vertigo and joint pain.</p> <p>Aspartame is an excitotoxin, and excessive exposure can cause damage to your brain cells. It is important to be aware when food shopping that you look at the ingredients list on the packaged foods and drinks. Look out for (950) or (951) - these are the number codes for aspartame, so avoid purchasing anything with those numbers.</p> <p>Start cutting back on the artificially sweetened drinks, with a view of eliminating them completely from your diet to protect your heart and brain health.</p> <p><em><a href="https://www.smartbrainhealthcentre.com.au/">Louise Hallinan</a> is the international award-winning author of </em>Smart Brain, Healthy Brain<em>, a natural medicine practitioner and founder of the Smart Brain Health Centre which specialises in the prevention of memory problems and improving brain health.</em></p>

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