Physical activity for preventing strokes

摘要

Stroke remains the most common life threatening neurological disorder, accounting for about 10% of all deaths worldwide. This is despite a decline in mortality rates due to stroke in most industrialised countries since the early 1900s owing to a decrease in case fatality or incidence, or both. Stroke is a leading cause of disability, and its treatment entails prolonged hospitalisation, with a commensurate financial toll. Preventing strokes is therefore of public health and economic importance. Although genes may play a part in predicting risk of stroke, the observation that individuals who migrate have the same rates of stroke as the people in their host country implicates environmental risk factors. Epide-miological studies have identified modifiable risk factors for stroke such as raised blood pressure, obesity, glucose intolerance, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Ischaemic stroke (the commonest type) and ischaemic heart disease share similar pathophysiological traits. Clear evidence links physical activity to ischaemic heart disease. A sedentary lifestyle is therefore a possible risk factor for stroke.