Women who dedicate walking at least 3 hours a week suffer from strokes almost half as often as those who walk less or are completely inactive, according to a recent study by Spanish scientists.
A group of specialists from the Regional Health Center in Murcia collected and collated data on 33,000 men and women participating in a large European cancer project.
The first stage of scientific work fell in the mid-1990s and included only a survey regarding the physical activity of people. Over the next 12 years, experts monitored participants who, in turn, informed them of each stroke. Throughout the time that the study was going on, scientists found almost 450 incidents related to the manifestation of this disease.
As part of the work, experts classified the participants into several groups according to criteria such as gender, total duration and intensity of training, as well as the approximate time of one lesson.
The lowest risk of stroke was found in women spending an average of 210 minutes a week on foot — their exposure to the disease was 43% lower than that of an inactive group of people. In this case, the frequency of its performance became a factor determining the effectiveness of the exercise.
According to the lead author of the study, Jose Maria, the relationship between physical activity and the risk of stroke in women is yet to be explained, but, in general, it is recommended that everyone do regular exercises of moderate recreational activity.
