Risk of stroke higher in women than in men

NEW DELHI: Commonly used cough and cold pills and syrups such as D’Cold, Vicks Action 500, Actifed or Coldarin contain phenylpropanolamine, an ingredient that could lead to a stroke.
''The Haemorrhagic Stroke Project'', conducted by Yale University School over a five-year period, first came out with damning evidence against the ingredient. The risk of stroke was found to be statistically higher in women compared with men.The ingredient was found to lead to strokes in healthy people even on recommended dose and with single use.
The US Food and Drug Administration subsequently asked for a recall of the drug from the market. C M Gulhati, editor of MIMS India, a monthly medical index, says that in India, the medicine is used for all kinds of unrelated disorders such as bodyache, headache and throat pain. It can also aggravate diabetes, glaucoma and prostate enlargement, he says.
He adds certain brands are available with safer alternatives in the West, but in India they are sold with the offending ingredient.