People who walk only 35 minutes a day can have less severe attacks

According to a study published on September 19, people who engage in light to moderate physical activity, such as walking for at least four hours a week or swimming for two to three hours a week, may have less severe strokes than inactive people. 2018, online number of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Stroke is a major cause of severe disability so it is important to find ways to prevent strokes or reduce disabilities caused by strokes," said Katharina S Sunnerhagen, Ph.D., author of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. "Although exercise is beneficial to health in many ways, our research suggests that just doing a little physical activity each week could have a significant impact later on by reducing the severity of stroke." . "

For the study, the researchers examined two Swedish registries on stroke and identified 925 elderly people on average 73 years old who had a stroke. The registers included data on the severity of stroke based on symptoms such as eye, arm and face movement, level of consciousness, and language skills. Of the participants in the study, 80% had mild stroke.

To determine physical activity, participants were asked, after stroke, how much they had moved or exercised during their free time prior to the stroke. Questions about duration and intensity of exercise were used to determine the average amount of physical activity. Family members were asked to confirm exercise levels as needed.

Light physical activity was defined as walking for at least four hours a week. Moderate physical activity was defined as more intense exercise such as swimming, brisk walking, or running for two to three hours per week. Of the study participants, 52% said they were physically inactive before having a stroke.

It is important to note that participants reporting their own physical activity after a stroke is a limitation of the study. It is possible that memory is affected by a stroke and more so in people with a more severe stroke.

The researchers found that people who engaged in light to moderate physical activity prior to their stroke were twice as likely as physically inactive people to have mild stroke rather than a moderate or severe stroke. Of the 481 people who were physically inactive, 354 had mild stroke, or 73%. Of the 384 individuals engaged in light physical activity, 330 had a mild stroke of 85%. Of the 59 individuals who engaged in moderate physical activity, 53 had mild stroke, or 89%. The researchers found that mild and moderate physical activity was also beneficial.

"There is growing evidence that physical activity can have a protective effect on the brain and our research complements this evidence," Sunnerhagen said. "Further research is needed to better understand how physical activity affects the severity of a stroke. Finally, physical inactivity needs to be monitored as a possible risk factor for a stroke." Serious stroke. "

Sunnerhagen noted that the difference in physical activity did not account for much of the difference in severity of stroke. Combined with a younger age, more physical activity accounted for only 6.8% of the difference between the two groups.

Sunnerhagen also said that the study does not prove that physical activity reduces the severity of stroke; it shows only an association.

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