Gerontological
Society Hears That Parental Divorce in Childhood Doubles Risk of Stroke
Adjusting for age,
race and gender, odds of stroke were 2.2 times higher for those who had
experienced parental divorce
Nov. 22, 2010
Having experienced the divorce of your parents when you were a child
appears to more than double the odds that you will suffer a stroke at
sometime in your life, according to new research presented in New
Orleans today at The Gerontological Society of Americas (GSA) 63rd Annual
Scientific Meeting.
We were very
surprised that the association between parental divorce and stroke
remained so strong even after we had adjusted for smoking, obesity,
exercise and alcohol consumption, said
Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD,
who led the data analysis with a team of colleagues at the University of
Toronto.
This finding is
based on a representative community sample from the 2005 Canadian
Community Health Survey.
Of the 13,134
total study respondents, 10.4 percent had experienced parental divorce
during their childhood, and 1.9 percent reported that they had been
diagnosed with a stroke at some point in their lives.
When adjusting
for age, race and gender, the odds of stroke were approximately 2.2
times higher for those who had experienced parental divorce.
When other risk
factors including socioeconomic status, health behaviors, mental
health, and other adverse childhood experiences were controlled in a
logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of stroke for those who had
experienced parental divorce remained significantly elevated.
GSAs meeting
the countrys largest interdisciplinary conference in the field of aging
is taking place at the
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
from November 19 to 23. An estimated 3,500 professionals are expected to
attend and the program schedule contains more than 500 scientific
sessions featuring research presented for the first time.
Fuller-Thomsons
presentation, Is There a Link Between Parental Divorce During Childhood
and Stroke in Adulthood? Findings from a Population Based Survey, was
at 7:30 a.m. today. Angela D. Dalton and Rukshan Mehta are co-authors.
Helpful Stroke Information from American Heart Association
Know the Signs of a Stroke
Stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning
signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts:
► Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm
or leg, especially on one side of the body
► Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or
understanding
► Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
► Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of
balance or coordination
► Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone with you has one or more of these
signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical
services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life
support) can be sent for you.
Also, check the time so you'll know when the first
symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If
given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug
called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term
disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only
FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours
of stroke symptom onset.
A TIA or
transient ischemic attack is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that
produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and
treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. The usual TIA
symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary. The short
duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the
main difference between TIA and stroke.
Let's Talk About Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death and a leading
cause of serious long-term disability in America. This fact sheet will
answer the following questions in regards to stroke, TIA and warning
signs:
► What is a stroke?
► What is a TIA?
► Why should I care about stroke? It seems hopeless.
► What are the warning signs of stroke?
► How can I learn more?
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Nov. 22, 2010
Having experienced the divorce of your parents when you were a child
appears to more than double the odds that you will suffer a stroke at
sometime in your life, according to new research presented in New
Orleans today at The Gerontological Society of Americas (GSA) 63rd Annual
Scientific Meeting.
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death and a leading
cause of serious long-term disability in America. This fact sheet will
answer the following questions in regards to stroke, TIA and warning
signs: