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A high
level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or "good
cholesterol," may cut by almost half the risk of stroke
among seniors, blacks and Hispanics, according to a Columbia
University Study.
Doctors
for some time have known that a high HDL level is protective
against heart disease, but until this study had not concluded
whether it was also protective against ischemic strokes.
Results
of the Columbia study, published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association, were based on a review of the effect
of HDL on 1,444 elderly whites, black and Hispanic volunteers
who took part in the the ongoing Northern Manhattan Stroke
Study.
The research
showed conclusively that as good cholesterol levels went up,
the risk of strokes went down, according to researchers.
The researchers
found that people with high HDL levels had a 47 percent lower
risk of the most common type of stroke, ischemic, which occurs
when a blood vessel is blocked by fatty deposits or a blood
clot. They also found that high HDL levels resulted in an
80 percent lower risk of strokes resulting from atherosclerosis.
"The
protective effect of a higher HDL-C level was significant
among participants aged 75 years or older," the researchers
said.
They said
the data suggested that people should increase their efforts
to boost their level of "good cholesterol" as a
way of reducing their risk of strokes.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of July 15, 2001
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