Recovery after a stroke is a long and responsible process that requires serious adjustments to your lifestyle. Scientists have offered such patients a very simple and affordable way to prolong their lives. The main thing is not to be lazy.
The University of Calgary study involved 895 stroke volunteers. The average age was 72 years. Participant data was compared with 97.8 thousand people who had never had a stroke. The researchers focused on assessing participants' daily physical activity and all-cause mortality in both groups.
Volunteers filled out questionnaires detailing their daily physical activity, which included not only walking, running, cycling and strength training, but also gardening. Participants were followed up for about 4.5 years. During this period, in the group of volunteers who had a stroke, 15% of people who devoted to physical activity for at least half an hour a day died. Among those who had a stroke but led a less active lifestyle, 33% of the participants died. In the control group, among physically active people, mortality was 4%, while among more inactive people — 8%.
After adjusting the obtained data, scientists found that patients after a stroke who walk or engage in other physical activity at least 3-4 hours per week, the risk of death from any cause is 54% lower compared to people with the same history who do not. Notably, the researchers found the largest reduction in mortality in the group of participants younger than 75 years of age. A minimum level of daily physical activity increased their chances of living longer by 80%.
«Our results show that physical activity can reduce long-term mortality from any cause in stroke survivors. We especially highlight this fact for younger patients, as they can reap huge health benefits from just thirty minutes of walking a day,” the study authors said.