Enzymes & Stroke

After heart disease and cancer, stroke conditions are the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Interestingly enough, there's a direct connection between heart disease and stroke that can greatly increase a person's risk of having a stroke. Enzyme levels in the blood can be key indicators of the potential risk involved.

Stroke

• An individual is said to have a stroke when blood fails to circulate through certain areas of the brain, according to the American Heart Association. Lack of blood flow can be the result of a blocked blood vessel, or from a free-floating clot from a ruptured blood vessel.

  Blocks and ruptures are typically caused by fatty deposits, or plaque that build up along blood vessel passageways. Individuals with a history of heart disease may also be at risk for stroke when plaque deposits reach a certain point.

Atherosclerosis

• Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops as plaque deposits build along blood vessel and artery passageways, according to the American Heart Association. When this happens, blood is unable to reach certain areas of the body.

  If a block forms in the blood vessels leading to the brain, stroke is the result. High-fat, low-fiber diets are often the cause of ongoing build-up along vessel walls. Other conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension can further increase the likelihood of a stroke's occurrence.

Inflammation

• Plaque build-up along blood vessels can do more than just block blood from flowing. According to the American Heart Association, vessel walls often become inflamed when deposits continue to accumulate. Inflammation is a normal immune system response designed to block off potentially threatening materials so antibody agents can work to eliminate them.

  The presence of inflammation also sets off certain enzyme reactions in the body that assist in the immune system response. In the case of heart disease or stroke, these enzymes act as inflammatory markers that may indicate a significant stroke, or heart attack risk is present.

Enzyme Functions

• Enzymes function as chemical regulators within the body. They do this by binding with specific materials or substrates and catalyzing chemical interactions between the cells and tissues.

  The immune system has its own set of enzymes that respond when a potential threat is present in the body. C-reactive protein is one such enzyme that responds to areas of inflammation, according to the Texas Heart Institute. In the case of heart disease and stroke, c-reactive protein is a key marker for excess plaque build-up in the blood vessels.

Blood Tests

• Increased levels of cardiac enzymes in the blood can often be an indicator of impending heart attack or evidence that a heart attack has occurred, according to the American Heart Association. Since a heart attack results from blocked passageways, these same conditions can precipitate a stroke episode as well.

  Blood tests designed to measure cardiac enzyme levels can provide information to determine if heart damage is present. Blood panels are designed to check for enzymes like creatine kinase, c-reactive protein and troponin protein levels, all of which can remain elevated for up to 14 days after a cardiac episode.