“Conditions such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes all increase the risk of a cardiovascular event.”
NEW DRUGS Recently, there has been a revolution in the treatment of both diabetes and obesity. GLP-1 agonists with brand names such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic have been shown to be effective in managing Type 2 diabetes, weight loss, and lowering cardiovascular risks. “GLP-1 drugs are very promising
and have already been associated with a significant lower risk of stroke in patients with diabetes, obesity, and even in those who already had a stroke,” said Fayad. The new guidelines include
screening to see who might benefit from a GLP-1 drug. “The guidelines recommend these
drugs for patients with diabetes and high cardiovascular risk or established cardiovascular disease,” said Sundararajan. “High cardiovascular risk is
defined as a 20% or higher risk for a cardiovascular event, such as a stroke or heart attack.
RISK FOR WOMEN Changes associated with menopause and endometriosis (a disease in which tissue similar to uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus) are important stroke risk factors for women. The new guidelines recommend
screening women for endometriosis, premature ovarian failure (menopause before age 40), and early onset menopause (before age 45). “Endometriosis is associated with
increased risk of hypertension, and high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular risk,” said Sundararajan. “Premature menopause or early menopause can be due to premature ovarian failure, surgical removal of one or both ovaries, or taking certain medications. “Premenopausal women tend
to be relatively protected against stroke compared to men of the same age. This protection is lost after menopause,” she explained.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE The new guidelines note that high blood pressure is one of the most
important stroke risks. Recent studies have found
that most people with high blood pressure need more than one hypertension medicine to keep their blood pressure at a healthy level. Only about 30% of people can manage on one medication. The guidelines recommend two or more hypertensive drugs for people whose blood pressure is not well controlled on a single drug to reduce stroke risk.
BRAIN HEALTH The guidelines stress that interventions to reduce stroke risk also reduce the risk for dementia. “At least half of dementias
are related to vascular dementia, meaning that it’s due to brain blood vessel damage that results in brain cell destruction and death from lack of oxygen and nutrients,” said Fayad. “By controlling vascular risk
factors, not only do you prevent stroke, but also prevent cognitive impairment and dementia. “It is never too early to start
talking about stroke risk with your primary care provider, as stroke may happen at any age. About a third of all strokes happen below the age of 50. After the age of 60, the risk of stroke doubles with each decade.”
MAY 2025 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 81
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