High Triglycerides Raise Stroke Risk

High levels of a blood fat called triglycerides greatly increase the risk of stroke, researchers say. They used data from a 31-year study of 14,000 Danish men and women. Triglycerides were measured several times through the years. People with the highest levels were 3 to 4 times as likely to have a stroke as those with the lowest levels. The increase was for ischemic stroke. This type is caused by blockage of a blood vessel in the brain. Researchers also found that triglycerides don’t need to be measured after 8 to 12 hours without food. Tests in the study were done at random times of day. HealthDay News wrote about the study November 11. It was in the Journal of the American Medical Association.