AHA News: Study Finds Higher Risk of Stroke-Linked Plaque in Men, Possible Test for Women

THURSDAY, May 16, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Men are more likely than women to develop unstable plaques in their neck arteries, a dangerous condition that can lead to strokes, according to new research that also identified a helpful warning sign for rupture-prone plaques in women.

The preliminary study, presented Thursday at the American Heart Association's Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions, sought to identify sex-specific markers of plaque instability in patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis, or fatty deposits in the neck arteries that supply blood to the brain.

Take Steps to Prevent a Stroke

THURSDAY, May 9, 2019 -- Strokes are common but not inevitable. There are ways you can reduce your risk, starting with your blood pressure.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of permanent disability, said Dr. Gary Bernardini, neurology chair at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens.

You Can Cut Your Odds for an Aortic Aneurysm

MONDAY, April 22, 2019 -- People at risk for an aortic aneurysm should get screened for the life-threatening condition, an expert says.

Aortic aneurysms are balloon-like bulges that can develop anywhere along the aorta, which runs from your heart through your chest and abdomen. An untreated aneurysm can grow until it ruptures or causes a tear between the layers of the artery, also called a dissection.

Experimental Blood Thinner May Help Prevent Stroke, Without the Bleeding Risk

THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 -- Researchers say an experimental stroke drug prevented blood clots without the typical side effect of blood thinners: increased bleeding risk.

Bleeding is a common and potentially dangerous side effect of current anti-clotting drugs used to treat stroke patients. But the new findings suggest that the antiplatelet drug, called ACT017, may be a safe and effective alternative to current therapies used in stroke patients.

Why More Patients Are Surviving an Aneurysm

MONDAY, April 15, 2019 -- New treatments mean aneurysms are no longer an automatic death sentence, specialists say.

Aneurysms are a weakening or bulging of blood vessels that can rupture and become life-threatening. They can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common in the brain, or in the main blood vessels that lead to the heart, legs and arms.

Could Very Low 'Bad' Cholesterol Bring Stroke Danger?

WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 -- Despite years of being told that the lower your LDL cholesterol the better, is it possible that levels that are too low might harm you?

Yes, say researchers who now report that women who have excessively low LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels may face a higher risk for a bleeding stroke.