Reducing your risk of stroke with exercise

2013-09-30 08:38:23

Whether we exercise or not, intuitively we all know that it benefits our overall health and well being. A recent study looking at the link between exercise and stroke found that regular physical exercise is associated with a decreased risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks.⁽¹⁾ They found most benefit in men and specifically those that exercised at a moderate to vigorous intensity (enough to break a sweat) ≥4 times a week. When these men were compared to inactive men, they found those that were inactive were 20% more likely to experience a stroke. Interestingly, the relationship between stroke and activity is less clear in women; the researchers postulate that women may get benefit with less vigorous exercise such as walking. The stroke lowering benefits of exercise are indirectly related to addressing risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and diabetes. Previous studies have found similar results, moderate to high levels of physical activity being associated with reductions of total ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes⁽²⁾ and managing hypertension which can typically prevent such cardiovascular events.⁽³⁾ With stroke being a leading cause of death and disability in Canada perhaps we should all be re-evaluating our exercise habits and start moving!