Lifestyle Affects Stroke Risk Part 2

Nearly two years ago, I wrote about a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in which lifestyle was linked to stroke risk. Just two months ago, a study published in the European Heart Journal noted that while cardiac risk factors were good in predicting heart disease risk, they weren't nearly as impressive in predicting stroke risk.  So who are we to believe?

As a tie-breaker, let me point your direction to a population-based cohort study of 30,239 older than 45yo who were followed from 2003-2007 that was published early online last week in Stroke.  The authors were able to link blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, smoking, physical activity & diet to stroke risk, based upon a simple 2 point scale (0=poor, 1=intermediate & 2=ideal) such that inadequate cardiovascular health was 0-4 points while average CV health was 5-9 points and optimum CV health was 10-14 points, thus comprising the 

Regardless of gender & ethnicity, an improvement in health category from inadequate to average health or from average to optimum was linked to a 25% lower risk of stroke.  More importantly, each point was associated w/8% lower risk of stroke.

This, to me, makes more sense.  After all, a blood vessel is a blood vessel is a blood vessel is a blood vessel, regardless of the organ for which it supplies.  Bottom line, take care of your heart & brain at the same time.

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