Dirty Air Kills 30,000 Americans Each Year

THURSDAY, July 25, 2019 -- Despite improved air quality since the 1990s, pollution still causes lung disease, heart attacks and strokes that kill more than 30,000 Americans each year, a new study estimates.

Researchers looked at concentrations of fine pollution particles known as PM2.5 across the country from 1999 to 2015. These tiny particles -- 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair -- come from the combustion of cars, coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources.

Americans Are Spending Even More Time Sitting, Study Shows

FRIDAY, July 26, 2019 -- The United States has grown a bumper crop of couch potatoes in recent years, a new study reports.

The amount of time people spend sitting around actually increased after the initial release of the federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in 2008, researchers have found.

Trying to Avoid a Second Stroke? Blood Pressure Control Is Key

MONDAY, July 29, 2019 -- If you've already had one stroke, your risk for another is much higher. But new research found that well-controlled blood pressure can reduce that risk by about 20%.

The study authors suggested maintaining a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or less.

Just 30 Minutes of Light Exercise a Week May Keep Deadly Stroke at Bay

WEDNESDAY, June 26, 2019 -- Just a little exercise may help protect you against a type of deadly bleeding stroke, a new study suggests.

As many as half of people who suffer a subarachnoid hemorrhage die within three months.

AHA News: What Migraine Sufferers Need to Know About Stroke Risk

FRIDAY, June 21, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Try not to let it give you a headache, but be aware: People who suffer migraines, especially women, seem to have a higher risk of stroke.

"It's not like people with migraines should be waiting anxiously about the possibility of having a stroke, but it does occur," said Dr. Mitchell Elkind, a New York City neurologist and professor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Infections, Especially UTIs, May Be Triggers for Strokes

THURSDAY, June 27, 2019 -- A urinary tract infection might be more than just a painful nuisance for some, with new research suggesting it could raise the risk of stroke in vulnerable people.

The study of over 190,000 stroke patients found that the risk of suffering a stroke was heightened in the weeks and months following any infection that required a trip to the hospital. But urinary tract infections (UTIs) showed the strongest link.