We’ve all been warned about the risks of high cholesterol, but investigators now say that a different type of blood fat is the strongest risk factor for strokes in older women. Women with the highest levels of triglycerides were almost twice as likely to experience an ischemic stroke as those with the lowest levels. The women were participants in the Women’s Health Initiative study, which continued for 15 years. 972 women who had strokes were compared to 972 healthy women. Although high triglycerides pose a danger, the scientists found no differences in total and LDL cholesterol levels. The researchers point out that elevated triglycerides can be controlled with diet and lifestyle measures.
[Stroke, online Feb. 2, 2012]
