Being Physically Active Reduces Stroke Damage,
Speeds Recover for Senior Citizens
The most active of these seniors average age 68 -
also had a better chance of long-term recovery
Oct.
22, 2008 - A new study shows that senior citizens who are physically
active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a
result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before
having a stroke.
Researchers reviewed the medical records of 265
people with an average age of 68 who had a stroke and were able to walk
on their own. Other stroke risk factors and other diseases and
conditions that might interfere with their ability to exercise were
considered.
The participants were interviewed after filling out
a questionnaire about their exercise habits and the number of hours they
were active during a one-week period.
The study found that the top 25 percent of people
who exercised the most were two-and-a-half-times more likely to suffer a
less severe stroke compared with people who were in the bottom quarter
of the group.
The most active also had a better chance of
long-term recovery.
Exercise is one possible risk factor for stroke
that can be controlled. Staying fit doesnt have to be a scheduled
regimen. For the people in this study, exercise included light
housework, taking a walk outside, lawn care, gardening or participating
in a sport, says study author Lars-Henrik Krarup, MD, of the Bispebjerg
University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. Krarup says the study also
suggests the importance of stroke awareness programs and prevention
campaigns.
The research is published in the October 21, 2008,
print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology.
To learn the five signs of stroke, visit
www.giveme5forstroke.org.
Give Me Five for Stroke is a joint campaign of the American Academy of
Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American
Heart Association/American Stroke Association to encourage people to
recognize stroke symptoms, call 9-1-1, and get to the emergency
department.
The study was supported by the Ludvig and Sara
Elsass Foundation, Hede Nielsen Foundation, Eva and Henry Frζnkels
Foundation, Sψren and Helene Hempels Foundation and King Christian the
10th Foundation.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association
of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is
dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A
neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing,
treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as
multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimers disease,
narcolepsy, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy
of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Oct.
22, 2008 - A new study shows that senior citizens who are physically
active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a
result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before
having a stroke. 