SNF Brain Stroke Samachar-451

[SN Foundation]

Vigorous exercise linked to reduced stroke risk in men

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Courtesy: Tele management

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Regular exercise has always been touted by doctors as a way for seniors to avert heart disease and stroke. A study has found that while vigorous exercise such as swimming and playing tennis may help men reduce their risk of stroke, the same effect is not seen in women.

The study by researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center involved 3,298 men and women in New York with an average age of 69. The researchers report that men who were able to take part in vigorous exercise like jogging, swimming and playing tennis had a 63% reduced risk of stroke as compared to their less active counterparts.

Over a nine-year follow up period, the researchers found reports of 238 strokes in this group.

In the exercise group, the stroke risk was 2.75%, while the non-exercise group had a risk of over 4.6%, the researchers report in the issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Taking part in moderate-to-heavy intensity physical activity may be an important factor for preventing stroke,” study author Dr. Joshua Z. Willey said in a released statement. “A large percentage of the participants were not taking part in any physical activities Identifying ways to improve physical activity among these people may be a key goal for public health.”

However in results that are opposite to other studies, this study found that light-intensity activities like golf, bowling or light walking did not confer a stroke-protective effect.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) , a stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells.

The prognosis for stroke is good if prompt treatment is given. However prevention is still the best way as far as this condition is concerned. Some of the preventive measures include treating high blood pressure, quitting smoking and well as controlling diabetes and heart disease.

As the above study indicates, exercise may also help in preventing strokes, especially in men.