Exercise Reduces Your Risk of a Serious Stroke in the Brain

If you've had a stroke, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of another one. These include doing low-to-moderate aerobic exercises and strength-training exercises. In addition, you can try to get your blood pressure under control because it's been shown that high blood pressure can increase the risk of a stroke. Exercise Reduces Your Risk of a Serious Stroke in the Brain.

Aerobic exercise

Aerobic exercise can be a great way to lower your risk of a serious stroke in the brain. 

A thorough review of the available research shows that it positively impacts several measures, including cardiovascular fitness and memory.

A study by the University of British Columbia found that regular aerobic exercise is linked to an increase in the size of the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory and learning. Another study suggests that it could be a valuable means of boosting memory and processing speed in healthy adults.

In addition, it has been reported that regular aerobic exercise has been linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A study of people in Scotland revealed that those who were physically active at age 70 showed less brain shrinkage than their sedentary peers.

Muscle-strengthening exercises

Regular physical work-out can reduce the risk of a serious stroke in the brain. However, it may be challenging to determine how much exercise is enough to protect against recurrent strokes.

In a recent meta-analysis, researchers evaluated the effects of physical activity on stroke-related mortality. The study included data from 33 prospective cohort studies. It found that men were significantly less likely to have a stroke than women. Moreover, each additional minute of exercise lowered the risk by 1.3%. Similarly, women's risk was lower by 24%.

Exercise also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
It reduces high blood pressure and obesity. Therefore it is ommended that adults take at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 to 4 times a week. It helps maintain muscle strength and mass and can also help people improve their walking ability.

Researchers in the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study determined that leisure-time physical activity is protective against ischaemic stroke. They followed up with the patients for a total of 10 years. The study found that people who exercised two to three times a week were 21% less likely to have a first ischemic stroke. Likewise, those who exercised four to seven times a week were 30% less likely to have a stroke.

Low-to-moderate-intensity aerobic activity

If you have suffered a stroke, you may have heard about how aerobic exercise can help protect you against a recurrence. Some studies have found that this activity can decrease your risk of a serious stroke in the brain. 

For instance, you should start out slowly. You can start walking for five minutes in the morning or running for a few minutes every evening. This will allow you to build up to more strenuous activities.

The benefits of low-to-moderate-intensity aerobic activity are numerous.
It can improve your health and quality of life, help you to sleep better, and increase your strength, and can also reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can also help to prevent the onset of dementia in older adults.

A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the impact of physical activity on stroke. The results showed that moderate levels of leisure-time physical activity are associated with a 15% reduction in stroke risk and that high levels of occupational and physical activity are associated with a 23% reduction.

Effects of exercise on stroke recurrence

Some evidence is that exercise after a stroke can reduce the risk of recurrence. 

But, more studies are needed to identify the optimal duration and intensity of physical activity for stroke prevention. The benefits of exercise after a stroke are numerous.

Several studies have shown that exercise after a stroke can improve cognition and balance. 

In one study, patients who participated in physical activities at least once a week had a lower risk of recurrent ischemic stroke than those who did not. However, the risk of recurrence was higher for non-exercising patients. The study also found that patients who exercised more than 7 hours a week had a lower risk of stroke recurrence.

Another study examined the dose-response relationship between exercise and recurrence. 

Researchers analyzed data from 760 first-ever ischemic stroke survivors. They measured the intensity of physical activity in metabolic equivalents (METs). METs represent the amount of oxygen used for a given amount of work. Each additional one minute of exercise reduced the risk of recurrent stroke by 1.3%.