When you find out you have a blocked coronary artery, you have options to help lower your risk of heart attack.

A heart bypass operation can be done to re-route blood around the blocked area or angioplasty, where the plaque is removed by a device like a "roto-rooter" may be an option.

Each has its own benefits and risks and your doctor will tell you if one is right for you.

But researchers wanted to know if either or both approaches had an increased risk of stroke after the procedure.

In a new study just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a team from Italy and New York analyzed data from 19 different trials...including nearly 11-thousand patients. They focused on the risk of stroke in the first 30 days after a procedure.

Bypass patients were significantly more likely to have a stroke in the first 30 days out, and the risk remained through the first year.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and stroke is a major cause of death and disability as well. Talk to your doctor about your risks for both conditions.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news doctors are reading health news that matters to you.