Study: Low cholesterol is not enough to prevent stroke

December 30, 1997
Web posted at: 9:00 p.m. EST (0200 GMT)

ATLANTA (CNN) -- A new study indicates that maintaining low cholesterol is not enough to protect against heart disease and stroke.

Jerry Tillinger illustrates the case made by a study in the journal, "Stroke." Tillinger has a low cholesterol level -- at 83 when anything under 200 is considered good. But he also has existing heart disease and a low level of so-called "good" cholesterol, a combination the study says doubles his chances of a stroke.

And, while there are treatments for bringing down LDL, the bad cholesterol, it's not so easy to boost the good cholesterol, HDL.

"It's not a totally lost cause, but it is much more difficult because it's not diet related... But stopping smoking, losing weight and exercising will raise your HDL," said Dr. Basil Margolis of St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta.

The study on "good" cholesterol may help doctors predict who is most vulnerable to heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the United States.

However, a second study shows that most patients who came to the emergency room suffering a stroke did not know they were having one. They were unaware of the signs of a stroke. Older patients, who are more at risk, knew even less about stroke symptoms than young patients.

Tillinger, for example, suffered a small strike and did not know it.

"I learned the hard way the dangers of stroke and what to look for," he said. "In my case, when I first discovered it, I was dizzy and I fainted."

Signs of a stroke include dizziness, sudden weakness or numbness, loss of speech or trouble talking, severe headaches and a reduction or loss of vision.

A call to 911 and early medical attention also greatly improves the chances of recovery from stroke. In addition, treatment at a hospital with a specialized stroke unit greatly improves the chances of recovery, according to a third study.

Correspondent Rhonda Rowland contributed to this report.

Special section:

• In-Depth Health: Stroke

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• American Heart Association
  • American Heart Association: Stroke

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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