Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Link Between Triglyceride Levels and Ischemic Stroke Risk

A recent study conducted in Denmark and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed a clear link between the level of triglycerides in the blood and the risk of ischemic stroke. Triglycerides are a type of fat that is stored in the blood, which come from calories that are not immediately used to provide the body with energy. The study followed 14,000 men and women for over 30 years, looking at their triglyceride level and how many suffered an ischemic stroke, which takes place when an artery to the brain becomes blocked by a clot, preventing fresh blood and oxygen from reaching the brain. Study participants that had triglyceride levels above 443 milligrams per deciliter of blood were found to have three to four times as much risk of stroke than those participants that had levels lower than 89 milligrams per deciliter. This particular study did not require the participants to fast for a period of time before their triglyceride level was tested, allowing the researchers to see who was really at greatest risk of stroke by observing their actual, everyday levels.

Previous studies have tied elevated triglyceride levels in the blood to a greater risk of heart attack, however this study out of Denmark is one of few comparing those levels with increased risk of stroke. The study should prompt doctors to check triglyceride levels when assessing a person’s stroke risk, allowing those that do have higher levels to receive treatment and lower that risk. Other stroke risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, age and heredity. In the U.S., stroke is the third leading killer of both men and women, with ischemic stroke accounting for an estimated 80 percent of all strokes that occur. If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke and have experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment, contact the stroke malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

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