Was this pointless research?

[SckizoBoy]

Just came across this by chance:Sex & Coffee Trigger Stroke [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13294022]

So says they that indulge liberally in weed.

Thoughts please.

 

[The Last Gaijin]

Why would finding out the causes of a very serious medical condition be pointless?

 

[SckizoBoy]

Why would finding out the causes of a very serious medical condition be pointless?

The 'finding' was that a series of common occurrences increase blood pressure that can subsequently cause strokes. So what do they recommend: try not to get surprised and don't exercise?!

The issue I take with general stroke research is that comparatively little is done with regard to blood vessel wall strength & chance of stroke. Granted, this is a lot more difficult to do given the need for particular types of brain biopsies.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Seems like prett

 

[The Last Gaijin]

Why would finding out the causes of a very serious medical condition be pointless?

The 'finding' was that a series of common occurrences increase blood pressure that can subsequently cause strokes. So what do they recommend: try not to get surprised and don't exercise?!

The issue I take with general stroke research is that comparatively little is done with regard to blood vessel wall strength & chance of stroke. Granted, this is a lot more difficult to do given the need for particular types of brain biopsies.

They can't know what the results were going to be before they actually did the research, not all research has to automatically lead to results, so called "blue sky" research is actually a very good long term investment as there's a good chance eventually the knowledge gained will lead to previously impossible or unthought-of technology or innovations.

 

[Gottesstrafe]

Pointless? No. The aim or "point" of the study was to:

Identify and quantify trigger factors for aneurysmal rupture and to gain insight into the pathophysiology.

Necessity? Noteworthiness? Larger implications? That's either subjective opinion or the launching point of further study. All the same, it's still a contribution.

Edit: Out of curiosity, did you read the full PDF file of the journal article? I don't have a subscription to the site in question myself, so I can't personally vouch for or against its contents.

 

[rokkolpo]

I think it's quite interesting.
(Also FUCK YEAH the Dutch did something!)

Percentage of bursts due to:

* Coffee 10.6%
* Vigorous exercise 7.9%
* Nose blowing 5.4%
* Sex 4.3%
* Straining to defecate 3.6%
* Drinking cola 3.5%
* Being startled 2.7%
* Being angry 1.3%

Pretty damn interesting.

 

[Zakarath]

Uh... isn't 250 people way too low a sample size for something like this?

 

[M4t3us]

Pointless as in it's common knowledge that everything that increases your heart rate is liable to cause a stroke, then yes.

But it is never pointless to raise awareness when it comes to health issues.

 

[SckizoBoy]

They can't know what the results were going to be before they actually did the research, not all research has to automatically lead to results, so called "blue sky" research is actually a very good long term investment as there's a good chance eventually the knowledge gained will lead to previously impossible or unthought-of technology or innovations.

Oh, I agree, but in this case, it has already been well established that strokes are caused by (pathologically) high blood pressure and/or spikes in blood pressure. So a part of me just got the feeling that this was merely an exercise in identifying what causes either of the above. Separately, perhaps: how to prevent/diminish chance of aneurysms? As the article pointed out the triggers for rupturing them. *shrug*

(NB not a medic, so enlighten me, please, all you neurobiologists out there)