A recent study suggests that changing climate patterns could be associated with an increase in stroke-related deaths and disabilities in different regions worldwide. Stroke is identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the primary cause of disability globally and the second leading cause of death, following heart disease.
Published in the journal Neurology, researchers conducted a study spanning three decades, revealing that non-optimal temperatures—whether excessively high or low—were increasingly linked to stroke-related death and disability. It's crucial to note that while the study highlights an association between temperature fluctuations and stroke risk, it does not directly attribute strokes to climate change. Additionally, the study did not investigate other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
Researchers found that most strokes occurred during temperatures lower than optimal, possibly due to blood vessel constriction and increased blood pressure. However, the study did not specify the ideal temperature range for human health. Conversely, higher temperatures were also associated with strokes, potentially because of dehydration affecting cholesterol levels and blood flow.
"Significant temperature fluctuations in recent years have impacted public health and raised widespread concerns. Our study suggests that these temperature changes may escalate the global burden of stroke, particularly affecting older populations and regions with healthcare disparities," said Lead author Quan Cheng, from Xiangya Hospital Central South University in Changsha, China.
Why drinking apple cider vinegar daily isn't as healthy as it is claimed
Each morning at breakfast, my partner gives me orange juice that tastes more sour than expected. One day, she explained that she added apple cider vinegar to improve my health.
As a former primary school teacher she swears by the stuff. She tells me she kept apple cider vinegar in the staff room so that when children became ill with diarrhoea and vomiting, she could take it immediately to protect her from the illness.
