Walking may reduce the risk of stroke: study

Maintaining an active lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent strokes for the elderly at high risk, according to research reported by HealthDay News.

British professor Barbara Jefferis at University College London conducted a 10-year experiment on 3,435 men aged between 60 and 80, and divided them into five groups: those who walked zero to three hours a week, four to seven hours a week, eight to 14 hours a week, 15 to 21 hours a week and more than 22 hours a week.

The data shows that men who walked eight to 14 hours a week cut their risk of stroke by one-third compared with those who walked zero to three hours a week.

Regular walking is seen to help reduce the chance of strokes, regardless of the speed of walking.

Other activities also help lower the risk. Neurology professor Ralph Sacco at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine said that all forms of physical activity, including walking, can promote ideal health and reduce stroke risk.

By Sung Jin-woo, Intern reporter
(jinwoo0120@herladcorp.com)