Private MD News

Statins may be prescription for danger in some stroke patients

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Statins have become one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the millions of individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results. However, a new study has shown that they may be dangerous for some individuals with high cholesterol who have recently had a stroke.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that individuals who have had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain are much more likely to have a second stroke if they take statins.

The use of statins has grown in popularity in recent years, as many more people now struggle with high cholesterol. Doctors have increasingly turned to statins because they are thought to have very few side effects. However, this study suggests doctors should be more cautious.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from two previous studies. They found that 22 percent of individuals with recurrent intracerebral bleeding who took statins experienced a second stroke compared to 14 percent of those who did not take the medication.

“Avoiding statins should be considered for patients with a history of intracerebral hemorrhaging, particularly those cases with a lobar location,” the researchers wrote in their report.