Study: Fewer Strokes for Women Who Walk Regularly

Women who average walking for a minimum of three hours weekly are less apt to have a stroke than those women who do not walk as much or at all, says a recent study that took place in Spain.

For the general population the message remains the same if an individual engages in a moderate recreational activity it will help them to remain healthy, said the study’s lead author.

Previous studies have tied physical activity to fewer strokes, which can occur by the buildup of plaque in the arteries or due to blood vessels rupturing in the brain.

While the study just published cannot prove regular walking was the cause of fewer strokes occurring in the women who took part in the study, it adds to a body of evidence for the possibility of relationships between the risk for specific diseases and specific types of exercise.

Women walking regularly (210 minutes) at a brisk pace each week were at a lower risk of having a stroke than those women who were inactive as well as being at a lower risk for those women who cycled and did other workouts of higher intensity for shorter lengths of time.

The women in the study, who were regular walkers, were at a 43% less risk of a stroke that those who were inactive, said the researchers. There was not any reduction present for men in the study based on the frequency or type of exercise, said the lead author of the study.