Health IQ: Extreme weather and stroke risk

Is climate change linked to strokes?

Extreme temperature changes, whether it’s a heat wave or a cold snap, may be linked to increased stroke deaths, according to new research.

The study, published April 10 in Neurology, found that in 2019 climate change could have been linked to more than half a million deaths from stroke across the world.

With climate change becoming more severe, the researchers caution that the global incidence of stroke could also escalate.

Over three decades (1990 to 2019), researchers from Xiangya Hospital Central South University in China discovered a rising correlation between both high and low temperatures and the occurrence of death and disability from stroke. But they noted the study does not prove that climate change causes stroke, it only shows an association.

Dr. Dylan Blacquiere, a stroke neurologist at the Ottawa Hospital, told Global News this is not the first time environmental conditions have shown to be a risk factor in terms of stroke.

“We know there’s been a link between air pollution, for example, and increased cardiovascular risks. So I don’t think anyone would be truly surprised if it did turn out there was some potential linkage between (climate change and stroke),” he said. “The link between our environment and the link between cardiovascular risk is becoming more and more clear.”

Read more about how temperature can impact health and the best way to stay safe amid drastic weather.

What is behind the ‘oatzempic’ craze?

The emergence of the “oatzempic” drink trend as the newest social media craze, touting remarkable weight loss outcomes, is met with caution from a nutrition expert amid the mounting excitement.

The name “oatzempic” blends a reference to oats (the main ingredient in the drink) with a play on Ozempic, the popular diabetes drug commonly used off-label for weight loss. However, there isn’t a medical ingredient in the concoction, which consists of a half cup of rolled oats, one cup of water, juice from half of a lime and a dash of cinnamon.

Certain TikTok users claim they’ve shed 40 pounds within two months thanks to the drink. Another user said she lost seven pounds in 10 days with oatzempic.

Natalie Riediger, an associate professor in the department of food and human nutritional sciences at the University of Manitoba, cautions against the oatzempic drink, suggesting it may be another fleeting fad diet lacking scientific backing.

While acknowledging that consuming oats for breakfast is a healthy choice, she emphasized the importance of incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense foods rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and fats into one’s diet for optimal health.

“I wouldn’t recommend anybody consuming one of anything because on its own you wouldn’t be getting sufficient protein,” she said. “There’s some protein in oats, but it wouldn’t be a complete protein and (there are) other vitamins and minerals that you’re missing out on (such as) iron and calcium, which most Canadians don’t get enough of.”

Read more about the oatzempic trend.

— THE TOPIC —

Can a natural supplement cure the baby blues?

— WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING —

A natural supplement, invented and developed by a team of Canadian researchers, has been shown to help prevent postpartum blues and reduce symptoms of postpartum depression after giving birth, according to a recent study.

The study, published Wednesday in the Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine, found that among the 100 participants who received four doses of the natural supplement within several days after childbirth, two-thirds experienced either no symptoms or only minor symptoms of postpartum blues.

Postpartum blues (also referred to as the ‘baby blues’) is a frequent syndrome of sad mood, crying spells, anxiety, restlessness, reduced appetite and irritability, typically peaking on Day 5 postpartum, according to the study. When severe, the researchers said it greatly increases the risk for later postpartum depression.

“Both postpartum blues and later symptoms of depression were lower in women who received the supplement,” said Jeffrey Meyer, the senior author and senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “Providing this supplement in the first few days after giving birth is a crucial window to avoid depressive symptoms which is important given there is considerable risk that they may recur and have a lifelong impact.”

The supplement, he said, is made of blueberry extract, which contains antioxidants, and amino acids called tryptophan and tyrosine. He said these replenish essential neurochemicals in the brain to support a healthy mood and the ability to concentrate under stress.

It is branded as ‘Blues Away‘, hit shelves in the United States on April 11 and is available on Amazon’s U.S. site. It is not yet available in Canada.