Atorvastatin Treatment After Stroke or Mini Stroke

This week's subject on our site is mini stroke. This transient but very meaningful collection of neurological symptoms should be a wake up call for stroke prevention. After a mini stroke you and your doctors must work fast to prevent a true and debilitating stroke in the near future. In essence, what should be done is two-fold. First there should be a thorough medical check up aimed at finding the cause of your mini stroke. Second, you should initiate a plan for stroke prevention which includes measures like blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol control, among other important preventive matters.

One of the measures that seems to help stroke and mini stroke prevention is atorvastatin treatment. A recent study with over 2,000 elderly patients who had suffered a recent mini stroke or stroke, found that atorvastatin treatment significantly reduced their risk of having a repeat event. The mechanism by which this medication works appears to be the reduction of cholesterol levels, although some people have suggested that there might be an anti-inflammatory effect of this medication which acts independently of its cholesterol-lowering effects.

Recommended reading:
What is atherosclerosis?
Six ways of staying stroke-free
Am I at risk of stroke?