Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Stroke Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;Cardiovascular / Cardiology Article Date: 21 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT
Current ratings for: Breaking a sweat reduces stroke risk
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If you work out enough to break a sweat, and do it regularly, you are less likely to have a stroke compared to people who are physically inactive, researchers from the University of South Australia and the University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA, reported in the journal Stroke.
Dr Michelle McDonnell and colleagues found that self-reported physically inactive people have a 20% higher risk of stroke or mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack) compared to those who exercise enough to break a sweat four or more times a week.
Previous studies have suggested that physical inactivity is the second most important risk factor for stroke, after hypertension (high blood pressure). The authors said that their study was the first to "quantify protective effects of physical activity on stroke in a large multiracial group of men and women in the United States."
The authors explained that studies have looked extensively into the stroke-protecting benefits of less cigarette smoking, even down to how much people can reduce their risk by smoking one cigarette less per day. The same extensive research has been done on blood pressure.
Even though the sample population all came from one country, the USA, the researchers said their findings are relevant in other countries.
McDonnel and team followed more than 27,000 Americans for an average of 5.7 years, they were all aged 47 or more years.
The participants were part of the REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Ethnic Differences in Stroke). The sample population included equal numbers of males and females, as well as Caucasians and African-Americans.
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Breaking a sweat reduces stroke risk