Best Type of Exercise after a Stroke

An August 2024 study by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

• “This study shows that people with stroke can also benefit from high-intensity interval training,”

• “With the right support and guidance, stroke survivors can safely and effectively engage in high-intensity interval training, significantly improving their overall health and recovery.”

• “This is the first randomized trial to examine a time-efficient, high intensity interval training program to incorporate a phased and progressive approach,”

• “We also used an adaptive recumbent stepper, which we believe allowed more people to participate in high-intensity interval training, even those who cannot walk fast enough or long enough on a treadmill.”

• “Stroke rehabilitation professionals now have evidence to support implementing short, high-intensity interval training protocols in clinical practice. We showed our program is safe and effective at improving fitness and walking distance in people after stroke, which are important outcomes for stroke survivors,”

Sauna and Stroke

A 2018 study by the University of Eastern Finland found that those taking a sauna between 4-7 times each week were over 60% less likely to have a stroke compared to those taking a sauna once each week.

Exercise Linked to Reduced Stroke Risk

A December 2016 study (of mice) by Georg-August-University suggests that, “physical exercise can be used as a preventive, as well as a therapeutic approach to aid recovery after a cortical stroke," It said, "We found that mice with free access to a running wheel throughout their life preserved a more juvenile brain into adulthood and were able to prevent the negative effects of a stroke."

Men under 50, smoking, stroke risk assessment

An April 2018 study by University of Maryland School of Medicine said, “The key takeaway from our study on men younger than 50 is 'the more you smoke, the more you stroke,’ …The goal is to get these young men to stop smoking, however if they can smoke fewer cigarettes it could help reduce their stroke risk,"

Long Work Hours, Stroke Risk

A June 2019 study by Paris Hospital, Versailles and Angers University and at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) said,

• "The association between 10 years of long work hours and stroke seemed stronger for people under the age of 50."

• "I would also emphasize that many healthcare providers work much more than the definition of long working hours and may also be at higher risk of stroke."

• "As a clinician, I will advise my patients to work more efficiently and plan to follow my own advice."

Dietary cholesterol or egg consumption and the risk of stroke

A May 2019 study by the University of Eastern Finland found that dietary cholesterol that is moderately high or one egg a day does not increase the risk of a stroke.

1 egg = 200 mg cholesterol.

Food and Stroke Risk

A very large February 2020 study by the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford said, "The most important finding is that higher consumption of both dietary fibre and fruit and vegetables was strongly associated with lower risks of ischaemic stroke, which supports current European guidelines. The general public should be recommended to increase their fibre and fruit and vegetable consumption, if they are not already meeting these guidelines.”

"Our study also highlights the importance of examining stroke subtypes separately, as the dietary associations differ for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, and is consistent with other evidence, which shows that other risk factors, such as cholesterol levels or obesity, also influence the two stroke subtypes differently."

Lowering the Risk

• Each additional 10g of fibre = 23% lower risk

• 200g of fruit and vegetables =13% lower risk

Examples

Two slices wholemeal toast = 6.6g fibre

Eight round florets of broccoli = 3g fibre

Unpeeled apple = 1.2g fibre.

Suggested Daily Targets

400g of fruit and vegetables

30-45g of fibre

Higher Risk

Each additional 20g of eggs = 25% higher risk of haemorrhagic stroke

Large egg = 60g.