Mini strokes linked to heart attacks

As a medical writer, I read a lot of research about health risks, some of it useful (Fish and fish oil linked to reduced risk of macular degeneration), some depressing (BPA levels highest in the US, study finds), and some totally unexpected (Can your birth month predict your health problems?). Falling in the "useful" category is a new study linking "mini strokes" to a higher risk of heart attacks. Think that falls more in the "depressing" column? Read on.

A mini stroke (also called a transient ischemic attack) occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is blocked for a short time, without causing permanent damage. It can make you lose control of one side of your body, or lose sight in one eye. But these problems go away within 24 hours.

Mini strokes are often referred to as "warning strokes," as they can provide the first sign that someone is at risk of a full-fledged stroke, which can cause brain damage, disability, and death. This early alert allows people to get treatment to reduce their risk.

In the new study, researchers explored whether mini strokes also warn of a raised risk of heart attacks. After all, the conditions have similar causes, involving a disruption of blood flow either to the brain (in a mini stroke) or the heart (in a heart attack). And studies show that most people who have a mini stroke eventually die of heart disease, the most common cause of heart attacks.

The researchers reviewed the health records of 388 people who'd had a mini stroke, to find out how many had suffered a heart attack in the following 10 to 20 years. They then compared these figures with the risk of heart attacks among people who hadn't had a mini stroke. None of the people had been diagnosed with heart disease at the start of the study, and the average age was 72.

Overall, people who had a mini stroke were twice as likely to have a heart attack as their peers. And they continued to have a higher risk 10 to 20 years after their mini stroke.

Even more striking, people who had a mini stroke before age 60 were 15 times more likely to have a heart attack.

These findings strongly support guidelines recommending that doctors routinely assess patients' risk of heart disease after a mini stroke. As they say, an ounce of (early) prevention is worth a pound of cure. Useful information, indeed.

What you need to know. If you've had a mini stroke, talk to your doctor about your risk of having a heart attack (and heart disease). You could mention this study as part of your discussion. Your doctor may recommend further tests or treatments—or reassure you that your risk is actually low.

Keep your heart healthy with our prevention guidelines.

Use our free tool to assess your risk for having a heart attack.

Incidence and Predictors of Myocardial Infarction After Transient Ischemic Attack [Stroke]

Coronary Risk Evaluation in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke [Circulation]

—Sophie Ramsey, BMJ Group

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