In a recent study published in The International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that drugs routinely prescribed for allergies, heart disease and Parkinson’s are linked to a higher risk of stroke.
They found that patients treated with drugs with anticholinergic’ side effects have a 60% increased risk of stroke.
The study is from the University of Aberdeen. The lead author is Dr. David Gamble.
Many common medications are known to have so-called anticholinergic properties.
This can lead to disruption in communication between parts of the nervous system and can manifest symptomatically as blurred vision, confusion, and memory loss.
The effect of anticholinergic drugs on stroke, however, has never been identified.
Previously, the team has found that these types of medicines are linked to poor health outcomes including death, dementia, falls and heart diseases.
In the study, they calculated the risk of stroke in 22,000 people (age 39 – 79) who were prescribed medicines with anticholinergic properties.
After more than 20 years of follow-up, the team found that those taking medicines with a high level of anticholinergic side effects had a 59% higher risk of developing stroke and a 86% higher risk of dying from stroke.
The team suggests that a number of plausible mechanisms exist within the literature to explain their findings.
Medicines with anticholinergic effects have been shown to affect inflammation.
This is important in the period immediately after a stroke, producing rapid and irregular heart rhythms and interfere with the body’s ability to regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
It is possible that diminishing these protective effects with anticholinergic drugs can make people more vulnerable to stroke.
The researchers suggest that it is possible to identify a new modifiable risk factor would have a significant impact on the global burden of stroke.
In addition, their findings are particularly relevant to clinicians and healthcare providers involved in prescribing and managing patient’s medications.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about feeling dizzy when standing up may signal high dementia and stroke risks and findings of this simple blood test may predict heart attack and stroke.
For more information about stroke prevention and treatment, please see recent studies about these 2 foods linked to diabetes, stroke and heart disease and results showing that this body infection has strongest link with stroke.
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