More American women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth are suffering from strokes, according to a new report in the journal Stroke.

Between 1995 and 2007, the number of women hospitalized for stroke while pregnant or soon after giving birth rose considerably. Pregnant women saw a 47 percent increase in hospital admission due to stroke, while new mothers saw an 83 percent spike, the source reports.

Some experts believe that these numbers are rising because many women are entering pregnancy with increased risk factors that make them susceptible to stroke, according to a recent study.

"Now more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease," explained Dr. Elena Kuklina, the study's lead author. "Since pregnancy by itself is a risk factor, if you have one of these other stroke risk factors, it doubles the risk."

High blood pressure was often associated with afflicted women. The study suggests using preventative means to ensure safety during pregnancy, a tactic that could lower the risks for other ailments as well and remove some strain from over-taxed health insurance policies.

While optimism is typically heralded as a good lifestyle choice overall, recent research shows that looking on the bright side may go so far as to improve heart health, according to ABC News Health.

The University of Michigan recently found that being optimistic significantly reduced incidence of stroke, according to the source. The institution's study reviewed the lifestyle and habits of 6,000 patients over 50 with no history of stroke.

"Past research has linked optimism with a range of health benefits, including cardiovascular outcome," study author Eric Kim explained to the source.

In a country where strokes effect millions of families and add strain to health insurance costs, this study may provide an essential key to helping to fight heart disease. Stroke is also the third leading cause of death in the nation, with approximately 137,000 Americans dying of it annually, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the research does show a direct link between a good attitude and improved health, researchers are unclear on how exactly this connection is forged. Some speculate that optimism may help keep blood pressure under control, and take subsequent strain off of the heart, according to ABC News Health.
 

While 2014 may seem like a long time off, many business owners are already considering whether or not they will "pay or play" when the healthcare reform bill begins to impact insurance benefits in 2014, according to CFO Magazine.

While the penalties for opting out of employer backed health insurance will be somewhat steep - $2,000 per full time employee - some are saying that they may still drop company coverage and send staff to seek out their own plans through health insurance exchanges, the source reports.

"Over the past year I've talked to many CFOs about pay or play, and more often than not they've said that the annual penalty is less than what they're paying now," Ed Bray, and insurance expert, told the source.

A recent survey conducted by McKinsey & Company supported these opinions. The report found that 30 percent of business owners stated that they would either definitely or probably discontinue group health insurance coverage after 2014. While there were fewer entrepreneurs completely decided on dropping coverage - only nine percent were definitely going to "pay" - the statistic could be indicative of a trend to look out for once health insurance exchanges develop

While 2014 may seem like a long time off, many business owners are already considering whether or not they will "pay or play" when the healthcare reform bill begins to impact insurance benefits in 2014, according to CFO Magazine.

While the penalties for opting out of employer backed health insurance will be somewhat steep - $2,000 per full time employee - some are saying that they may still drop company coverage and send staff to seek out their own plans through health insurance exchanges, the source reports.

"Over the past year I've talked to many CFOs about pay or play, and more often than not they've said that the annual penalty is less than what they're paying now," Ed Bray, and insurance expert, told the source.

A recent survey conducted by McKinsey & Company supported these opinions. The report found that 30 percent of business owners stated that they would either definitely or probably discontinue group health insurance coverage after 2014. While there were fewer entrepreneurs completely decided on dropping coverage - only nine percent were definitely going to "pay" - the statistic could be indicative of a trend to look out for once health insurance exchanges develop

A recent survey conducted by Kelton Research found that many single young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 think that having health insurance makes an individual more attractive.

Of the 506 men and women polled, 90 percent of college students and 93 percent of graduates stated that a potential mate that had health insurance was more appealing. Furthermore, many respondents reported that they would be willing to give up some of their everyday luxuries in order to obtain health insurance for themselves, the source reports.

Many individuals - 68 percent - would be willing to eat at home and forgo a weekly night out at a restaurant if the end result was a health insurance policy. Weekly movie nights and daily coffee may also be cut for healthcare, as 65 percent and approximately 50 percent of those questioned, respectively, stated they would trade those things for coverage, according to Kelton.

Young adults also indicated that they would avoid certain activities if they were not covered by health insurance. For example, many reported that they would not ride a motorcycle, ski or rock climb if they did not have access to healthcare through an insurer, according to the source.