Women who kick bad habits in middle age ‘cut stroke risk by more than a third’

WOMEN who kick bad habits in middle age slash their risk of a stroke by more than one-third, according to new research.

A daily burst of exercise, consuming less junk food and alcohol, not smoking and shedding a few pounds if overweight is all it takes, say scientists.

The finding published in Stroke adds to increasing evidence it is never too late to protect against serious illnesses.

Lead author Professor Goodarz Danaei, a cardiologist at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health,

Boston, said: “We found changing to a healthy lifestyle, even in your 50s, still has the potential to prevent strokes.

“Women who made lifestyle modifications in middle age reduced their long-term risk of total stroke by nearly a quarter and ischaemic stroke, the most common type, by more than one-third.”

Ischaemic strokes account for 80 per cent of cases. They occur when a clot blocks off blood flow to the brain. The more rare haemorrhagic stroke is a burst blood vessel.

Stroke is the fourth leading killer in the UK, claiming 38,000 lives a year. In general, women are more prone than men. They are also more likely to die and have poorer health and physical function afterwards.

The average age of a first stroke in women is 75. The researchers wondered if making simple lifestyle changes in midlife might help reduce their risk.

So they analysed data on nearly 60,000 women from the Nurses’ Health Study who enrolled in their 40s, 50s and 60s and were tracked for decades.

The impact from smoking cessation, exercising 30 minutes or more daily, gradual weight loss for those with a BMI (body mass index) of at least 25 was assessed.

The researchers also looked at the affect of dietary changes recommended by experts.

This included eating more fish, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and cutting down on red and processed meat and alcohol.

The participants were followed for an average of 26 years, making it one of the largest and longest studies of its kind.

Around one in 20 of those who made no lifestyle changes had a stroke of any type.

Engaging in daily exercise, weight loss and not smoking reduced the risk of ischaemic and total stroke by 36 and 25 per cent, respectively.

What’s more, those who managed sustained dietary modifications were 23% less likely to have a stroke. In particular, eating more fish and nuts and less unprocessed red meat appeared to work. But the biggest benefit came from exercise, avoiding cigarettes and having a healthy BMI (body mass index).

Last year a study of almost 200,000 over 60s in the UK found adopting a healthy lifestyle slashed their risk of dementia by one-third.

The University of Exeter team said the effect was just as pronounced on those genetically prone to the condition – underlining the affect of good habits.