Examination shows milky serum, a warning sign of stroke risk

Milky serum is at risk of stroke

Biochemical test results showed that the patient's blood triglyceride concentration was 2,250 mg/dL, nearly 15 times higher than normal. Although there were no clinical symptoms, the patient was in a state of severe dyslipidemia, with a potential risk of acute pancreatitis and ischemic stroke. Bachelor of Laboratory Science Nguyen Thi Nha An, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Campus 3, said: "Milky serum is a sign of many disorders, in this case of severe hyperlipidemia, mainly high triglycerides in the plasma".

Normal serum (left) and milky serum

Photo: BVCC

Dr. Kieu Xuan Thy, Deputy Head of Facility 3, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, commented that this is a typical case of a group of young patients but with worrying metabolic risk factors.

“Triglyceride levels above about 2,000 mg/dL are clearly associated with macrovascular disease such as ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease. The above patient had no clinical symptoms, but if not detected through regular screening, the risk of acute events such as stroke or acute pancreatitis in the future is entirely possible,” Dr. Xuan Thy warned.

Stroke is getting younger and younger

According to Dr. Xuan Thy, recent statistics at end-line general hospitals show a trend of increasingly younger strokes, with the 30-40 age group accounting for a significant proportion. Common risk factors include:

• Lipid disorders, especially elevated triglycerides.
• Belly fat, little exercise.
• Diet high in saturated fat, ultra-processed foods.
• Hypertension, asymptomatic type 2 diabetes.

“It is worth noting that many young people are still subjective about their health because there are no obvious symptoms. Meanwhile, blood vessel damage and the atherosclerotic process occur silently for many years before incidents occur,” Dr. Xuan Thy emphasized.

From there, Dr. Kieu Xuan Thy advises everyone, especially young people, to control blood fat by maintaining three groups of measures in parallel:

Proper nutrition : Reduce saturated fat, refined sugar, avoid fried foods with lots of oil. Prioritize fresh foods, rich in fiber, sea fish, whole grains.

Lifestyle changes : Increase physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week), don't skip breakfast, get enough sleep, limit alcohol and stop smoking.

Regular testing : It is recommended to perform blood lipid testing at least every 12 months for adults; especially risk groups such as office workers, people with abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or those with a family history of early cardiovascular disease.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/di-kham-thay-huyet-thanh-duc-nhu-sua-dau-hieu-canh-bao-nguy-co-dot-quy-185250518121448544.htm