Stroke Linked to Debilitating Illness

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

“No wonder he hasn’t gotten out of bed in three weeks. His B12 levels are bottomed out, and he had a stroke last month.”

Years ago while working as a mental health social worker, I came across a patient that I’ll never forget. We will call him “Paul.”

Paul was a 76 year old who still worked full time as a corporate lawyer and spent lots of time fishing with his six grandsons.

His family described him as jovial, full of life and always busy.

Then, suddenly, Paul suffered a massive stroke. While he made a full physical recovery, he never seemed to bounce back emotionally.

He was always morose, lacked energy and even stopped going fishing with his grandsons.

Finally, about a month after his stroke and his blue symptoms, he was admitted to the ER for another debilitating condition — depression.

--Strokes Lead to Depressed Folk

According to a study lead by Dr. Merete Osler of Copenhagen University, Paul wasn’t alone in experiencing depression after having a stroke.

In fact, it seems that up to 25 percent of folks who suffer a stroke will also experience depression in the first year afterward.

Dr. Osler and his team unearthed these incredible statistics through analyzing the data from seven Danish nationwide registries. After scanning this data, the team discovered how the risk factors for depression differ between people who have strokes and those who don’t. They also took a look at how depression influences death.

For the study, they looked at the health stats of 135,417 people with stroke. Of these, 25.4 percent were diagnosed within two years of suffering a stroke, and more than half of these were diagnosed within the first three months.

However, for the control population who did not experience a stroke, the risk of depression was almost two-thirds less than that of stroke victims. Of the 145,499 folks sampled, only 7.8 percent were diagnosed with depression within two years of entering the study.

Depression risk was eight times higher in the three months after a stroke than it is was for the control population. This means having a stroke could increase your risk of having depression eight times more than that of someone who never experiences a stroke.

The study concluded that some major risk factors for depression in both populations were older age, living alone, diabetes, basic education attainment and history of depression. In addition, people from both groups who experienced depression also had an elevated risk of death from all causes.

--The B12 Connection

As it turns out, there’s one nutrient that can help protect you from both stroke and depression — vitamin B12.

The reason for this is a nasty chemical called homocysteine.

You see, elevated levels of homocysteine can cause trigger inflammation and wreak havoc on your heart and mental health — causing you to have a stroke and/or greatly increase your chances of having a bout of depression. But a healthy level of B12 can suppress homocysteine’s assault on your body.

Not to mention, low levels of B12 are also associated with poor recovery from both conditions.

And just as we saw with Paul’s case, he ended up suffering both conditions while also having an extremely low B12 level. There’s no way to know if Paul’s suffering was caused solely by a low vitamin B12 level, but there’s a pretty good chance it had something to do with it.

Fortunately, Paul’s doctor recommended a B12 supplement as part of his recovery regime. Within a couple of weeks, Paul was back on his feet, practicing law and fishing with his grandsons.

That’s why it’s important to regularly eat foods with high levels of B12. These include red meats, cheeses and eggs.

If you’re unsure if your diet is supplying you with the right amount of B12, supplementation is another way to ensure your intake.

Just be sure to purchase supplements that contain the methylcobalamin form of B12. It’s the most active in the body. It’s best to get the sublingual tablets versus capsules. This means the B12 is absorbed directly in the mouth and doesn’t depend on the stomach for digestion.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Sources

[1] Stroke: Study examines risk, risk factors for depression

[2] Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12.

[3] The Role of Vitamin B in Stroke Prevention

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

“Brain Games” Failed You? Try THIS For Better Memory Instead

You know all those brain-training apps, supplements, and “miracle” memory-boosters that promise to keep your brain sharp as you age? Here’s the truth… There IS evidence they support brain health—and that’s why I’ll be the first to recommend them. But they aren’t the most powerful brain-boosting tool available to you. Another surprising solution has earned...

Read This

Mailbag: 5 Powerful Ways to Shield Your Prostate from Cancer

“What are your tips to avoid prostate cancer?” —Keeping Cancer at Bay Hi Keeping, You’re right to be concerned—prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. And there were an estimated 268,490 new prostate cancer...

Read This

Popular Drinks Quintuple THIS Deadly Risk

We all know that sugary drinks aren’t good for our teeth. But new research reveals a far more sinister link between sweetened beverages and oral health. Your soda habit could be putting you at risk for something far worse than cavities… Research published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery has uncovered a shocking...

Read This

Depression AGES Your Body 30% Faster—Here's How to Stop It

Recent research highlights the profound connection between the mind and body. The eye-opening new study shows how battling depression could put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve long known that it’s linked to an increased risk of illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes....

Read This

Study Reveals Not All Generic Drugs Are Created Equal

Like most folks, you probably don’t think twice about whether you’re getting a brand-name or generic drug when you pick up a prescription. After all, the FDA insists generics are just as safe and effective as their pricier brand-name counterparts. But what if that’s not always true? A disturbing new study has uncovered evidence that...

Read This

Feed Your Good Gut Bugs with this Produce Aisle Staple

Improving your health doesn’t always have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes, it’s as simple—and tasty—as a handful of berries. We’ve long known that blueberries pack a serious nutritional punch. But this latest research takes things by revealing exactly how these berries enhance your gut microbiome—the community of beneficial bacteria living in your digestive system....

Read This

Harness the Forgotten Superpower of Boredom

From the moment we crawl out of bed in the morning until we hit the hay again at night, we’re bombarded with stimulation. With screens everywhere, including in our pockets, we’re surrounded by entertainment. But with constant notifications and endless scrolling, we’ve forgotten how to be bored. In fact, most of us avoid it at...

Read This

The Forgotten Nutrient That May Save Your Memory

Some nutrients, like vitamin D and vitamin C, get all the attention. But almost no one’s talking about vitamin K. However, this overlooked nutrient could be key to preserving your memory as you age. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests vitamin K plays a critical role in keeping your brain sharp well...

Read This

Mailbag: The "Natural Navigator" Method for Finding Your Perfect Doctor

“I would like to know what questions are the best to ask when looking for a new naturopathic practitioner? How do I find the best naturopathic endocrinologist for my needs? Is it OK to see your naturopath virtually?” —Natural Navigator Hi Navigator, You’re asking some brilliant questions about finding the right naturopath (or, really, any...

Read This

Study Reveals How Diabetes "Hijacks" Your Brain's Memory Center

The damage uncontrolled diabetes can do—from your eyes to your kidneys—is well known. But now, alarming new research shows it could also be damaging your brain in ways we never imagined. In fact, researchers have found that type 2 diabetes may “rewire” the brain in ways eerily similar to early Alzheimer’s. Here’s what you need...

Read This