Stay Fit, Reduce Chance of Stroke
A moderate level of aerobic exercise five times per week can greatly reduce the risk of stroke in both men and women. These are the findings of a study that has been going on for the last 30 years to determine if a person’s cardiorespiratory fitness can indeed prevent strokes from occurring.
The importance of such a study is certainly made clear knowing that over 780,000 adults in the United States experience a stroke each year. It is usually fatal for about 150,000 of these people. It is rated the number one cause of long-term disability in the country and ranks as the number three cause of death.
More than 61,000 people participated in a study at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas, which began in 1970 and ended in 2001. Participants who entered the study were followed for an average of 18 years each. They ranged in age from 18 to 100 years old, none of whom had any known cardiovascular disease. Of those who participated 46,405 were men and 15,282 were women. During the course of the study, 863 participants had strokes – 692 of the men and 171 of the women.
When the test began, each person took a treadmill test to determine their level of cardiorespiratory fitness. They were then divided into four separate groups based on their results.
What researchers found was that the top quartile of male participants had a 40 percent lower risk of stroke than did the men in the bottom quartile. Additionally, they found that the benefits of exercise also extended to those who engaged in a moderate level of exercise described as about a 30 minute brisk walk 5 days per week. Interestingly, the positive effects of the exercise outweighed such potentials for causing ill health such as smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and alcohol intake.
Moreover, he same benefits were noted among women participants. Those in the highest quartile of fitness had a 43 percent lower risk of stroke than did those in the bottom level fitness group. “We found that a low-to-moderate amount of aerobic fitness for men and women across the whole adult age spectrum would be enough to substantially reduce stroke risk,” said study leader Steven Hooker, Ph.D.
Even though study participants were mainly white, well-educated and of middle upper income and more research is needed in other ethnic groups and lifestyle levels, it does show that stroke risk factors can be positively addressed through exercise. Even if a person does not have a treadmill or aerobic exercise equipment available, a walk in the countryside, in the shopping mall or a good hike with a friend or relative could fit the bill. Just get out and walk for 30 minutes, 5 times a week, and your chance of a debilitating stroke will be considerably reduced.