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A red flag for strokes - Health and Medicine - link between triglyceride levels and stroke - Brief Article

American Fitness, July-August, 2002

Research shows high levels of triglycerides are a strong predictor of a person's risk for stroke (the third largest cause of death in the United States according to a report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association December, 2001). "High triglycerides are associated with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA)," says David Tanne, M.D., lead author of the study. "To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to indicate that high triglyceride [levels] expose heart disease patients to increased risk for stroke beyond cholesterol."

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In light of this finding, Tanne believes healthcare providers should test triglyceride levels, with a standard cholesterol blood test, as part of their stroke assessment. The link between triglycerides and stroke is still under investigation, says Tanne. "However, in addition to the direct atherogenic effect of triglycerides, these lipids appear to be a marker [for]a series of other changes that could worsen atherosclerosis or cause blood clots," he says. "High triglyercides are associated with several abnormalities of the body's clotting systems, which may contribute further to cardiovascular disease."

Additional studies are required to see if a similar link between triglycerides and stroke exists in individuals without heart disease. If so, drugs or drug combinations for lowering blood lipids may be needed to prevent strokes among those with high triglycerides, says Tanne.

A red flag for strokes - Health and Medicine - link between triglyceride levels and stroke - Brief Article

American Fitness, July-August, 2002

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