Stroke

There's more reason to worry (about yourself, that is) if Dad had a heart attack than if he had a stroke, researchers have found. In a study published Tuesday in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, scientists at the University of Oxford in England showed that people are more likely to inherit the risk of having a heart attack than the risk of having a stroke. The team looked at data collected in England from 906 patients who'd suffered acute heart ailments such as a heart attack and 1,105 patients with acute cerebral events, which include stroke and transient ischemic attack (or mini-stroke)

Retired Adm. Hyman G. Rickover was reported in stable condition at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he is recovering from a stroke. Lt. David Morris, a Navy spokesman, confirmed that Rickover, 85, had suffered a stroke. Rickover was admitted July 4 in serious condition, but his condition has improved to stable, said Lt. Charles Updegrove, a spokesman at the hospital, which is just outside Washington. Rickover, known as the "father of the nuclear Navy," retired in 1982.

Giving stroke victims cholesterol-lowering statins while they are still in the hospital increases the likelihood that they will survive the stroke and be able to go home, researchers reported Tuesday. It has been known that giving the drugs to a stroke victim lowers the odds of having a second stroke, said Dr. Alexander C. Flint, a neurologist at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, Calif. But it has not been clear how soon to begin the drugs after the initial stroke. The new report in the journal Neurology suggests that the drugs should be given immediately.

Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker had a mini-stroke last week and will need at least one more week of rest before he's able to rejoin the team. "I'm feeling much better, and it's great being back here in Cincinnati," Baker, 63, said in a statement. He returned to Cincinnati after being discharged from a Chicago hospital earlier in the week. Chris Speier will remain interim manager of the Reds, who have already clinched a playoff spot, until Baker returns. Speier saw Baker when the manager visited the team on Tuesday.

Tiger Woods has missed the cut in the Abu Dhabi Championship after he was penalized two strokes for moving his ball from vines. He'll join top-ranked Rory McIlroy on the sidelines this weekend -- the first time that both have missed a cut in the 41 tournaments they've played together -- because of the blunder. It happened at the fifth hole Friday when his drive sailed to the right of the fairway and landed in a thicket of vines. Woods called playing partner Martin Kaymer over to see if he could get relief, and Kaymer agreed the ball had become embedded in the vines.

Adam Scott made the Texas Open his first PGA Tour victory in two years, shooting a combined 11-under 133 in a 36-hole finale Sunday to edge Fredrik Jacobson by a stroke. The 2008 Byron Nelson Classic winner, Scott overcame two early bogeys with an eagle on the par-four 17th in his third-round 66, then built his lead with six birdies en route to a closing 67 on the new Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. Scott finished at 14-under 274 for his seventh tour victory. Scott rallied from four strokes back — and bogeys on two of his first three holes — before settling down in the long final day. More than three inches of rain had washed out Friday's round, setting up Sunday's 36-hole marathon.

Ben Curtis remained in position for his first PGA Tour victory since 2006 despite his first stumbles at the Texas Open, shooting a one-over 73 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round at San Antonio. Matt Every was second after a 73 in a bid for his first PGA Tour victory. Mayakoba winner John Huh (67), Seung-Yui Noh (68) and Charlie Wi (71) followed at four under. David Frost and Michael Allen birdied nine of the first 13 holes and combined for a nine-under 63 for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Purtzer and Brad Bryant in the Legends of Golf at Savannah, Ga. Bryant and Allen had a 65 to match Frost and Allen at 19 under at the Club at Savannah Harbor.

Isaac Hayes apparently died of a stroke, officials with the Memphis Sheriff's Department said Tuesday. The deep-voiced soul singer died Sunday after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes' family physician, Dr. David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke, sheriff's spokesman Steve Shular said. Kraus told investigators that he had been treating Hayes, 65, for high blood pressure, Shular said. Family members found Hayes lying on the floor of his home beside a treadmill that was still switched on.

Patients who have suffered a stroke are 14 times more likely to have a new stroke just after a heart bypass surgery than people who have other cardiovascular problems, a new study shows. The findings could help doctors predict which patients are at highest risk for a stroke complication during or after surgery, and may also help to identify ways to lower the risk with some patients, researchers said. The study identified other groups at higher risk for stroke after a bypass.

Holding an eight-stroke lead and 18 holes away from a second major title, Cristie Kerr wasn't about to declare victory in the LPGA Championship. "I can sit here and say, 'Give me the trophy now.' But it's not going to happen," Kerr said after shooting a 69 Saturday. "I've got one more round of golf to play." Kerr's focus was on display during a rain-soaked round at the Locust Hill Country Club in Pitttsford, N.Y., where she went to 13-under 203 entering the final round Sunday.