The first study to quantify the lifetime risk of stroke in the United States population shows that women have a higher risk than men. According to the research, American women aged 55 and older have a one in five chance of suffering a stroke during their lifetime, while men the same age have a one in six chance.
Neurologist Walter Truax M.D. and neurosurgeon Frank Culicchia M.D. have both treated more female stroke patients in their practice in the last several years. Both physicians spoke at a recent meeting of the American Stroke Association in New Orleans.
It may be that women live longer than men and that's why we're treating more women for stroke," explained Dr. Truax. "Women tend to be protected from cardio- and cerebrovascular disease until menopause;" then their risk rapidly rises and equals men in a short time" he added.
STRESS AND MS
There is probably no greater stress than the death of one's child. With that in mind, the authors of a recent study reasoned, a link between stress and the development of multiple sclerosis might show up in individuals who have suffered that great loss. The study bore out that premise - parents who lose a child do have an increased risk of developing MS according to the study, published in the March 9 issue of Neurology
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects young adults. While the cause isn't known, researchers suspect that both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors play a role. While researchers have long suspected that psychological stress may play a role in the development of the disease, this is the first study to examine a large group beginning before they developed MS and following them for several years. It's hoped that these results will help researchers determine what body processes are affected by stress and how that could influence the development of MS, leading to a better understanding of the disease process and ultimately, to ways to prevent it.
Neurovascular Update
Culicchia Neurological Clinic and West Jefferson Medical Center are gearing up for this year's Neurovascular Update at the Windsor Court Hotel on May 14, 2004. Medical professionals are invited to the program which features Issam Awad, M.D., professor of neurosurgery from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Alejandro Berenstein, M.D., professor of radiology, neurology and neurosurgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York, as well as Frank Culicchia, M.D., Robert Dawson, M.D., and John Frieberg, M.D., of Culicchia Neurological Institute.
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The first study to quantify the lifetime risk of stroke in the United States population shows that women have a higher risk than men. According to the research, American women aged 55 and older have a one in five chance of suffering a stroke during their lifetime, while men the same age have a one in six chance. 
There is probably no greater stress than the death of one's child. With that in mind, the authors of a recent study reasoned, a link between stress and the development of multiple sclerosis might show up in individuals who have suffered that great loss. The study bore out that premise - parents who lose a child do have an increased risk of developing MS according to the study, published in the March 9 issue of Neurology
Culicchia Neurological Clinic and West Jefferson Medical Center are gearing up for this year's Neurovascular Update at the Windsor Court Hotel on May 14, 2004. Medical professionals are invited to the program which features Issam Awad, M.D., professor of neurosurgery from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Alejandro Berenstein, M.D., professor of radiology, neurology and neurosurgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University in New York, as well as Frank Culicchia, M.D., Robert Dawson, M.D., and John Frieberg, M.D., of Culicchia Neurological Institute.