Exercise Harder to Prevent Stroke

Along with lifestyle changes such as eating healthfully and not smoking, regular exercise is crucial for controlling hypertension (high blood pressure), which is the number one cause of stroke. Most reputable agencies, including the American Heart Association, recommend 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily at a moderate intensity level. This includes activities such as walking or biking at a pace where it is still possible to maintain a conversation. However, new research suggests that exercising harder is better for reducing stroke risk.

The news comes from the Northern Manhattan study, a large-scale epidemiological study analyzing the myriad factors that help explain why someone does or does not experience a stroke. Researchers looked at just over 3,000 people, average age 69, and found that those who reported engaging in moderate-to-heavy intensity activities like tennis and swimming were 35% less likely to suffer a stroke over a nine-year period than patients who didn’t exercise People who exercised only lightly, such as an occasional walk at a slow pace, were only 6% less likely to suffer a stroke than non-exercisers.

The fact that people who exercise harder are afforded more protection may not seem very revolutionary, but these results do fly in the face of previous research. Other large-scale studies that have influenced current recommendations on exercise, including the Nurses’ Health Study and the Women’s Health Initiative, suggested that high-intensity may only increase the risk of injury or cause chronic conditions such as arthritis without producing any added cardiovascular benefits when compared to moderate intensity activity. This study says otherwise and suggests that it may be a good idea to bump up the rigors of your exercise program. Just be sure to talk to your doctor first.

Source: Healthcommunities