Soda consumption linked to stroke risk

Individuals who require a prescription to buy Plavix to control their risk of suffering a stroke may benefit from eliminating soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages from their diet. A new study has found that people who drink greater quantities of soda appear to be at an elevated risk of experiencing a stroke.

For the study, a team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard University analyzed up to 18 years' worth of medical records of more than 127,000 men and women. The results showed that those who reported drinking the most soda had the highest risk of suffering a stroke.

On the other hand, individuals who drank coffee, regardless of whether it was caffeinated, appeared to be protected from strokes.

The researchers said that excessive sugar consumption may lead to insulin resistance and inflammation. In turn, this can contribute to atherosclerosis, thrombosis and plaque buildup in the arteries, all of which are risk factors for strokes.

Therefore, soda consumption may be an important risk factor for this cardiovascular complication. Individuals who already know they are at risk for other reasons and require a prescription to buy Plavix may benefit from eliminating soda from their diet.