Stroke risk rises for men with divorced parents

A new study suggests men from divorced families have a higher chance of suffering a stroke than men from non-divorced families.

The University of Toronto conducted the study, which is reported in the International Journal of Stroke.

Researchers found adult men have a three-times higher chance of having a stroke if their parents were divorced before they reached age 18.

Scientists say they can't pinpoint a reason for the connection, but say it could be because of an increased amount of cortisol, a hormone created by stress.

That could affect how boys react to stress as they get older.

The study also found that female children of divorced families did not face that increased stroke risk.