Each May, we are reminded of two important health observances that are deeply interconnected: American Stroke Month and High Blood Pressure Awareness Month. At Solidarity HealthShare, we take this time to educate our community with knowledge that can prevent the life-altering event of a stroke and to highlight the role of cutting-edge care in healing after a stroke has occurred.

Understanding the Risks: High Blood Pressure and Beyond

Strokes are a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The most significant modifiable risk factor for strokes is high blood pressure, often called the “silent killer.” When blood pressure is too high, it damages arteries, making it more likely for clots to form or burst, leading to ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes.

But high blood pressure isn’t the only threat.

The Hidden Drivers of Clotting: Infections, Toxins, and Blood Viscosity

Emerging research has uncovered how infections and environmental toxins can contribute to abnormal blood clotting and increased risk of stroke. Chronic infections can create systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, increasing blood viscosity (creating “thick blood”), which impairs circulation and increases the risk of clot formation.¹ Heavy metals, mold toxins, and other toxins similarly interfere with vascular and immune function, pushing the body toward a pro-clotting state.²

Both COVID-19 infection and the COVID-19 vaccination have been associated with an increased risk of blood clots and stroke, particularly in younger populations. A 2022 study published in JAMA Neurology found that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had a higher incidence of strokes, compared to those with influenza.³ Likewise, a number of case reports and population studies have raised concerns about post-vaccination thrombotic events, including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.⁴

A Word of Caution: Oral Contraceptives and Stroke

Another commonly overlooked contributor to stroke risk is the use of oral contraceptives, particularly those containing estrogen. These medications significantly increase the risk of blood clots and strokes.⁵

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has long recognized this risk, despite the unfortunate continued widespread use and even trend to push for over-the-counter availability. Data from a Nurses’ Health Study revealed that women using oral contraceptives had nearly double the risk of ischemic stroke compared to non-users.⁶ This is particularly concerning given how frequently these medications are prescribed to young women without thorough evaluation and when better alternatives are available.

At Solidarity, we believe women deserve better than a risky “band-aid” approach to their reproductive health. We support life-affirming, root-cause-focused care that honors the dignity and design of the human body.

Hope and Healing: The Promise of Perispinal Etanercept for Stroke Recovery

Stroke recovery can be slow and incomplete with conventional rehabilitation. But a promising therapy offers hope to patients and their families: perispinal etanercept, an off-label use of a TNF-alpha inhibitor traditionally used in treating autoimmune diseases. This approach targets post-stroke neuroinflammation, a key driver of lingering neurological symptoms.

In 2019, a double-blind randomized controlled trial (n=80) demonstrated that perispinal etanercept significantly improved central post-stroke pain syndrome (CPSP), with daily pain scores dropping by up to 24 points. Nearly 30% of patients experienced near-complete relief after just one treatment, and shoulder mobility improved by an average of 55 degrees – a remarkable result.⁷

Further observational data is even more compelling. A 2012 observational study of 629 patients, 617 of whom had suffered from strokes, showed statistically significant improvements in neurological and cognitive function, many within minutes to hours after treatment. The benefits of perispinal etanercept have been independently observed and documented by speech pathologists, nurses, medical practitioners, and neuroscientists, and over 4,000 patients in 91 countries have received this treatment.

At Solidarity, we are proud to partner with preferred providers who offer this therapy. As a physician, I have personally treated patients with perispinal etanercept and witnessed extraordinary recoveries, including improved speech, mobility, and emotional regulation, after conventional therapy had reached a plateau.

Prevention and Innovation: A Call to Action

This May, we need to do more than raise awareness—we must take proactive steps to prevent strokes and explore innovative pathways to healing for those who have suffered one. That means:

• Monitoring and optimizing blood pressure and metabolic health
• Reducing toxic exposures and treating underlying infections
• Educating patients about the risks of contraceptives and unnecessary medications
• Providing access to precision therapies like perispinal etanercept

At Solidarity HealthShare, we are redefining healthcare, not just as a set of services, but as a mission to restore the body, mind, and spirit.

If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke and would like to explore this therapy, please reach out to our team to connect you with our care navigation services. We are here to support your journey with faith, science, and hope.

In Solidarity,

1. Akide Ndunge OB, Kilian N, Salman MM. Cerebral Malaria and Neuronal Implications of Plasmodium Falciparum Infection: From Mechanisms to Advanced Models. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2022 Dec;9(36):e2202944. doi: 10.1002/advs.202202944. Epub 2022 Oct 27. PMID: 36300890; PMCID: PMC9798991. ↩︎
2. Malvandi AM, Shahba S, Mehrzad J, Lombardi G. Metabolic Disruption by Naturally Occurring Mycotoxins in Circulation: A Focus on Vascular and Bone Homeostasis Dysfunction. Front Nutr. 2022 Jun 24;9:915681. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.915681. PMID: 35811967; PMCID: PMC9263741. ↩︎
3. Merkler AE, Parikh NS, Mir S, et al. Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vs Patients With Influenza. JAMA Neurol. 2020;77(11):1366–1372. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2730 ↩︎
4. de Gregorio C, Colarusso L, Calcaterra G, Bassareo PP, Ieni A, Mazzeo AT, Ferrazzo G, Noto A, Koniari I, Mehta JL, Kounis NG. Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis following COVID-19 Vaccination: Analysis of 552 Worldwide Cases. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Feb 3;10(2):232. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10020232. PMID: 35214690; PMCID: PMC8874972. ↩︎
5. Li F, Zhu L, Zhang J, He H, Qin Y, Cheng Y, Xie Z. Oral Contraceptive Use and Increased Risk of Stroke: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Front Neurol. 2019 Sep 23;10:993. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00993. PMID: 31592249; PMCID: PMC6767325. ↩︎
6. Bushnell CD. Stroke in women: risk and prevention throughout the lifespan. Neurol Clin. 2008 Nov;26(4):1161-76, xi. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2008.05.009. PMID: 19026906; PMCID: PMC2634299. ↩︎
7. Ralph SJ, Weissenberger A, Bonev V, King LD, Bonham MD, Ferguson S, Smith AD, Goodman-Jones AA, Espinet AJ. Phase I/II parallel double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of perispinal etanercept for chronic stroke: improved mobility and pain alleviation. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2020 Mar;29(3):311-326. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1709822. Epub 2020 Jan 3. ↩︎