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Introduction Since a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack is a major risk factor for a recurrent event, lifestyle counselling during the hospital phase is an essential component of treatment and may increase the probability of lifestyle change. Aims and objectives To study the effect of risk factor-targeted lifestyle counselling intervention on working-age stroke patients' adherence to lifestyle changes. Design A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-post-test design. Methods Stroke patients in an acute neurological unit were divided into a control group (n = 75) receiving standard counselling and an experimental group (n = 75) receiving risk factor-targeted counselling. Lifestyle data and clinical outcomes were collected at hospital between January 2010 and October 2011, while data on adherence to lifestyle changes 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results The baseline lifestyle habits did not differ significantly other than in alcohol behaviour. Both groups increased their intake, but the intervention group to a lesser degree. However, the experimental group significantly lost their weight for the first 3 and 6 months; at 3 months reduction in cigarette consumption and at 6 months significant increases in smoking cessation were also achieved. All improved some of their lifestyle habits. Intervention was associated with support from nurses as well as from family and friends. Adherence scores were higher in the experimental group. Conclusion Some short-term advantages in lifestyle habits due to the intervention were noted. Participants in both groups improved some of their lifestyle habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To describe and explain the lifestyle habits of hospital-admitted stroke patients by identifying relationships between the different lifestyle habits and by examining associations between them and clinical measurements. Background Stroke is associated with several risk factors that are closely intertwined. However, lifestyle factors have profound effects on its incidence. It has been shown that healthy lifestyle habits are associated with a reduced stroke risk both in combination and independently. Design A cross-sectional, exploratory study. Methods Data were collected from stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients ( n = 150) in an acute neurology unit in Finland between January 2010 and October 2011 using the Lifestyle Instrument. Data analysis was performed by cross-tabulation of variables, factor analysis, analysis of variance and logistic regression. Results Patients with a mean age of 56·5 participated. Based on their body mass index, most were overweight (43·2%) or obese (31·8%). Their waist circumference levels indicated significant health problems in most cases (70%). Their mean glucose (5·6 mmol/l) and blood pressure (149·9/86·7 mmHg) levels were also above the guideline values. The participants had diverse risk factor-related lifestyle habits. There were several statistically significant differences between the different lifestyle habits and most of the clinical data were at least partly explained by the lifestyle habits. Conclusions The participants in this study had many lifestyle habits that are associated with stroke risk factors, exposing them to an elevated risk of a new stroke in the future. Relevance to clinical practice It is an important obligation for nursing staff courageously to bring up the lifestyle habits at the hospital phase and point out that there is a relationship between them and stroke incidence and that secondary stroke can be prevented or made less likely by adopting a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the association of cardiovascular health in adolescence and young adulthood with alexithymia 25 years later. The study sample (n = 1122) participated in evaluations conducted in 1986 (baseline) and in 2011-2012 (T2). Baseline health factors and behaviors were assessed utilizing seven ideal cardiovascular health metrics (ICH index) including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, physical activity, body-mass-index, and diet. The stability of the ICH index was evaluated with corresponding assessments in 2007 (T1). At T2, alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The main analyses were conducted using ANCOVA and adjusted for depression, age, and present social and lifestyle factors. TAS-20 subscales, Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF), and Externally Oriented Thinking, were analyzed separately. The ICH index was significantly associated with the TAS-20 total score, as well as both with DIF and DDF. A less ideal cardiovascular health was associated with higher alexithymia scores. However, regarding the separate factors, only the association between non-ideal dietary habits and DIF was significant in the multivariate analyses. The baseline ICH index score was stable from baseline to T1. We conclude that non-ideal cardiovascular lifestyle habits in adolescence and young adulthood are significantly associated with later alexithymia., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interests to report., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)