Risks: 5 Pathogens Linked to Risk for Stroke

A new study shows an association between five common pathogens and an increased risk for stroke.

Many strokes cannot be explained by known risk factors like high blood pressure and smoking.

The infections in order of significance are Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, according to the study, published online on Nov. 9 in The Archives of Neurology. Each of these infection persist after the acute stage, and perpetuate a state of chronic low-level infection, which can lead to inflammation in the vessel walls. This could be the reason leading to the disease.

This study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between common infections and stroke, only an association, and that the evidence was circumstantial.

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