Harvard Health Content API

Some strokes are caused by narrowed blood vessels in the brain. To reduce the risk of this type of stroke, people take blood thinners and other drugs. Doctors also often do surgery to inflate the blood vessel. But a national study has found that people who took risk-reducing drugs had fewer strokes and deaths, compared with patients who also had the surgery. The study included 451 people who had a stroke or were at high risk of a stroke in the brain. All of them took blood thinners and drugs to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Some also had surgery to insert a mesh tube called a stent. The stent keeps the blood vessel open so blood can flow through it. The study was stopped early because there were more than twice as many strokes in the stent group as there were in the drugs-only group. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Extra pounds increase the risk of death in black women, says a study. It used information from almost 52,000 black American women. Those who were overweight had a 12% increased risk of death, compared with those who were not. Obese black women had a 29% increased risk. None of the women smoked. The study also found that women with larger waists had a higher risk of death, even after researchers accounted for overweight or obesity. Other studies have shown that people with “apple shapes” have more diabetes and heart disease, compared with people who have “pear shapes.” The study was published in the September 8 New England Journal of Medicine. HealthDay News wrote about it September 7.

Acid reflux is more common among people exposed to the 9/11 disaster site, even if they don’t have other health effects. That’s the conclusion of a new study. Researchers looked at the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prior research found higher rates of GERD among those exposed to the disaster if they also had asthma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new study took a closer look at GERD. The source was the World Trade Center Health Registry. This database includes rescue and recovery workers at the site. It also includes those who lived or worked in the area. The study focused on 37,000 people who had no GERD symptoms before 9/11. People who had asthma, PTSD or both were the most likely to develop GERD that lingered 5 to 6 years after the attacks. But GERD symptoms occurred in many people who did not have these conditions, too.

About 38% of people in Europe have some type of mental illness, a new study estimates. That’s a total of about 165 million people. And most do not get treatment, researchers said. The study was based on data from more than 30 countries. It included common illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol and drug dependence also was part of the study. But the sweep was even broader. The study also included conditions such as attention disorders, sleep problems and dementia. The authors said only about one-third of people get treatment. The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology released the study. The Associated Press wrote about it September 6.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that all children age 6 months and older should get a new flu shot this season — even if they had one last year. The 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against the same three strains of influenza as last year’s vaccine. The vaccine’s protection from the flu only lasts for about 6 to 12 months. That’s because a person’s immunity drops by as much as 50% after vaccination. So it’s important to get the flu vaccine every year to keep your protection up to date. The journal Pediatrics published the new guideline online on September 1. HealthDay News wrote about it.

A small study found that people who ate potatoes twice a day had lower blood pressure without weight gain. The 18 people in the study were all overweight. They ate 6 to 8 purple potatoes twice a day for a month. The potatoes were baked in a microwave without toppings or oil. Blood pressure dropped by about 4%. Potatoes provide vitamins, fiber and potassium. But the way they are prepared may often counteract any health benefits. Scientists from the University of Scranton did the study. They reported the results August 31 at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting. Several online news outlets, including MSNBC.com and the Irish Times, wrote about the study September 1.