Nov 16, 2009 4:42 PM by Jamie Smith
Strokes are typically caused when blood vessels are blocked.
Doctors often order a gamut of tests to determine their patients' risk for heart disease and stroke. Now a new study shows a simple blood test may be all that's needed.
Researchers in the UK analyzed the medical records of over 300,000 adults. All had various forms of cholesterol measured during a blood test, and were followed for several years.
They found that measuring a patient's HDL, or good cholesterol, was a strong indicator of future health risks. Those with the lowest levels of good cholesterol had double the risk for heart disease, compared to those with the highest levels.
They also found fasting did not make a difference in the test results, and measurements of triglycerides did not impact a patient's risk.