Walk to cut your stroke risk
Regular walking significantly reduces stroke risk in women, indicates a new study.
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Regular walking significantly reduces stroke risk in women.
Previous studies have found that active people are 25 percent to 30 percent less likely to have a stroke than inactive people. To look further into the association of physical activity and stroke risk, researchers looked at data from 39,315 U.S. female health professionals, aged around 50 years, participating in the Women's Health Study. Out of all, 473 of the women had an ischemic (clot-related) stroke and 102 had a hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke during 12 years of follow-up.
It was found that those who were most active in their leisure time were almost 20 percent less likely to have any type of stroke than those who were least active. More specifically, those who usually walked at a brisk pace were 37 percent less likely to have any type of stroke and had a 68 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Further, those who walked two or more hours a week had a 30 percent lower risk of any type of stroke and a 57 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Moreover, women who usually walked at a brisk pace were about 25 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke, and those who walked more than two hours a week were less likely to have an ischemic stroke.
The findings indicate that physical activity, including regular walking, is an important modifiable behavior for stroke prevention as it promotes cardiovascular health and reduces risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers recommend that adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity, aerobic activity.
Previous studies have found that active people are 25 percent to 30 percent less likely to have a stroke than inactive people. To look further into the association of physical activity and stroke risk, researchers looked at data from 39,315 U.S. female health professionals, aged around 50 years, participating in the Women's Health Study. Out of all, 473 of the women had an ischemic (clot-related) stroke and 102 had a hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke during 12 years of follow-up.
It was found that those who were most active in their leisure time were almost 20 percent less likely to have any type of stroke than those who were least active. More specifically, those who usually walked at a brisk pace were 37 percent less likely to have any type of stroke and had a 68 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Further, those who walked two or more hours a week had a 30 percent lower risk of any type of stroke and a 57 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Moreover, women who usually walked at a brisk pace were about 25 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke, and those who walked more than two hours a week were less likely to have an ischemic stroke.
The findings indicate that physical activity, including regular walking, is an important modifiable behavior for stroke prevention as it promotes cardiovascular health and reduces risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers recommend that adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity, aerobic activity.
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