- High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and death rates due to stroke are nearly 45%. Having excess weight or being physically inactive can both lead to high blood pressure, so help to minimize your risk of stroke by maintaining a healthy weight through eating well and being regularly physically active. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.4,5
- Individuals who are obese have a greater chance of suffering from sleep disordered breathing, known as sleep apnea.6 Those with sleep apnea have a greater risk of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and stroke.7
- Diabetes is an individual risk factor for stroke. Help decrease your risk of diabetes and stroke by maintaining a healthy weight by eating well and being physically active. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.4
- One way to help prevent having a stroke is by maintaining a healthy BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).8-16 WHR is the measure of your waist (abdomen) in inches compared to the measure of your hips in inches. By keeping the range of these numbers low, you can help to lower your risk of stroke.
- Research studies have shown that obesity is one of the risk factors that can be changed in order to help decrease your risk of having a stroke.12 Obesity can increase the risk of stroke by having excessive fat tissue throughout the body.17-20 This can lead to difficulty in blood flow and an increased risk of blockage, both of which can cause strokes.
- Obesity puts children at long-term higher risk for chronic conditions, such as stroke. Other conditions include hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.20 Help to decrease your child’s risk by helping them maintain a healthy weight with a heart healthy diet and daily physical activity (The American Heart Association recommends at least 60 minutes a day for kids).4
- Individuals who are overweight or obese have an increased chance of enlargement of the left side of the heart, known as left ventricular hypertrophy. This is due to increased blood pressure and strain on the heart. Research studies have shown that left ventricular hypertrophy and high blood pressure are predictors of heart disease and stroke in both children and adults.21
- With the growing number of children who are overweight and obese, there are more cases of stroke in younger individuals (below age 60). BMI in late adolescence is an important predictor of stroke and other heart disease in their adult life. 1,2The risk of stroke among overweight and obese children increases with age. Help to decrease your child’s risk by helping them maintain a healthy weight with a healthy diet and physical activity (The American Heart Association recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day for kids).4
- One out of every five individuals who are overweight is affected by a metabolic condition known as “Syndrome X.” The factors that characterize this condition such as high blood pressure or insulin resistance can increase the individual’s risk for developing more serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.3
- Two of the best ways to lower your risk of stroke is by eating a heart healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, eating sensible portions and being physically active on a regular basis. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. Make a goal of getting 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week to keep your body moving.4
Resources:
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2. Baker JL, Olsen LW, Sorensen TI. Childhood body-mass index and the risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007 Dec; 357(23):2329-37.
3. Endocrine Society. Understanding Obesity. Accessed online June 2010 from http://www.obesityinamerica.org/understandingObesity/diseases.cfm
4. American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2011.
5. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report: National Institutes of Health. Obes Res. 1998;Suppl 2:51S–209S.
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7. Partinen M, Jamieson A, Guilleminault C. Long-term outcome for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients. Mortality. Chest. 1988;94: 1200–1204.
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14. Terry RB, Page WF, Haskell WL. Waist/hip ratio, body mass index and premature cardiovascular disease mortality in US Army veterans during a twenty-three year follow-up study. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord.1992;16:417– 423.
15. Walker SP, Rimm EB, Ascherio A, Kawachi I, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. Body size and fat distribution as predictors of stroke among US men. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144:1143–1150.
16. Pyorala M, Miettinen H, Laakso M, Pyorala K. Hyperinsulinemia and the risk of stroke in healthy middle-aged men: the 22-year follow-up results of the Helsinki Policemen Study. Stroke. 1998;29:1860 –1866.
17. Kurth T, Gaziano JM, Berger K, Kase CS, Rexrode KM, Cook NR, Buring JE, Manson JE. Body mass index and the risk of stroke in men. Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:2557–2562.
18. Rost NS, Wolf PA, Kase CS, Kelly-Hayes M, Silbershatz H, Massaro JM, D’Agostino RB, Franzblau C, Wilson PW. Plasma concentration of C-reactive protein and risk of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack: the Framingham study. Stroke. 2001;32:2575–2579.
19. Sriram K, Benkovic SA, Miller DB, O’Callaghan JP. Obesity exacerbates chemically induced neurodegeneration. Neuroscience. 2002;115:1335–1346.
20. Daniels et al. American Heart Association Childhood Obesity Research Summit Report. Circulation. 2009;119:e489–e517.
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