In some cases, there may be warning symptoms before the stroke takes full effect. As soon as symptoms appear, seek immediate emergency medical attention - call 911, or the number for emergency services in your area.
The homocysteine/stroke connection
Homocysteine (HCY) was first linked to stroke in 1966. Pioneering medical researcher Kilmer McCully discovered that young people with high levels of homocysteine had heart attacks and strokes more often than peole of the same age with lower levels of homocysteine.
Was this same protein responsible for these attacks in older people ? As time went along and research progressed, the link between high levels of homocysteine and stroke become stronger and stronger. Today there is no dispute :
a high level of homocysteine is a strong predictor of stroke at any age.
Why the "B" vitamins are so important
There are a number of nutrients that help reduce excess homocysteine. Folic acid protects against HCY from ever being formed. But since HCY is necessary at low levels, using pure folic acid is not the best way to lower it. Vitamin B-6 causes rapid excretion of excess HCY, but excreting extra homocysteine means that some amount of it may have already damaged your blood vessels. Vitamin B-12 stabilizes homocysteine by converting it to a beneficial protein. This happens very quickly - before HCY can reach excessive levels and wreak havoc on healthy arteries.
Other nutrients assist in helping reduce excessive HCY, but these three combined vitamins - B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid - are at the heart of any strategy to lower homocysteine. And remember, a lower level of homocysteine means a lowered risk of stroke.
Pursue health & wellness with passion !