Roundup: Global Study Finds 9 of 10 Strokes Are Preventable; Global Leadership Summit Preview (VIDEO)

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, but nine out of 10 strokes are preventable, according to a new large-scale global study.

The study, published in The Lancet, analyzed almost 27,000 people from every continent in the world. Researchers found that 10 factors accounted for 90 percent of stroke risk across all regions. However, the relative role of each stroke risk factor varied by region, and the study’s authors concluded that the findings could help governments and medical communities mold their approach to the disease.

In the United States, about 800,000 adults suffer a stroke every year.

Of these modifiable risk factors, high blood pressure (hypertension) is the most important. Eliminating high blood pressure was estimated to reduce risk by nearly 48 percent, the findings showed.

Researchers calculated the following potential stroke-risk reductions achieved by eliminating each of the 10 factors:

Hypertension: 48 percent
Physical inactivity: 36 percent
Lipids (blood fats): 27 percent
Poor diet: 23 percent
Obesity: 19 percent
Smoking: 12 percent
Heart causes: 9 percent
Diabetes: 4 percent
Alcohol use: 6 percent
Stress: 6 percent

Researchers’ new findings added to previous conclusions drawn from the InterStroke study, which identified 10 modifiable risk factors for stroke in about 6,000 participants from 22 countries. The extended study added 20,000 people in 32 countries to help further pinpoint the main causes of stroke across diverse populations.

The two major types of stroke are ischemic stroke, which is caused by blood clots and accounts for 85 percent of the incidents, and hemorrhagic stroke, or bleeding in the brain, which represents 15 percent of strokes.

Related articles:

• Strokes: Myths vs. Facts
• 6 Ways to Reduce Your Stroke Risks

Global Leadership Summit in South Florida and Abroad (Video)

Leadership, public health and workplace issues will take center stage at the Global Leadership Summit,  which will be held Thursday, Aug. 11, and Friday, Aug. 12. The annual event, organized by the Willow Creek Community Church, is broadcast from Illinois to different regional and global hubs, including several locations in South Florida: Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables, Christ Journey Church in Kendall and Island Community Church in Islamorada.

This year, South Florida participants will join about 305,000 people nationally and globally who are expected to attend the event. Speakers for 2016 include Melinda Gates: Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Alan Mulally, former president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company; and Bishop T.D. Jakes, founder of The Potter’s House and author of New York Times bestseller, Destiny: Step into Your Purpose.

On the local stage, least year’s event featured presentations from Brian E. Keeley, president and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida, and D. Wayne Brackin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Baptist Health.

The Baptist Health South Florida News Team spoke to organizers of the 2016 regional event. Watch now.

Tags: heart disease, Neuroscience Center, stroke