Research shows that daily activities are not enough to protect against stroke

Research conducted at the University of Gothenburg shows that the physical activities we do during our lives, at work or at home, are not enough to protect us from a stroke. However, leisure-time exercise and the use of active transportation are associated with a reduced risk of stroke. The study is published in JAMA network opened.

“Physical activity during leisure time and as transportation becomes increasingly important as many jobs and household activities become more sedentary,” said lead study author Adam Viktorisson, a researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Continuation of twenty years

The study included 3,614 people from the Västra Götaland region, of whom 269 suffered a stroke in the twenty years covered by the study. Three months after the stroke, 120 of them had died or were dependent on assistance with activities of daily living.

Data on physical activity were collected from surveys. Some participants were also given a pedometer to wear. Physical activity during leisure time or before transportation showed a correlation with the objective measurements of the pedometers, while physical activity at work did not.

Physical activity at work provided no protection

The health benefits of physical activity are well known, but previous studies tend to focus on leisure-time physical activity. Research in recent years has shown that physical activity at work can have negative health consequences, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“How and when we perform physical activity appears to play a crucial role in determining its health benefits. In our study, leisure-time and transport physical activities were associated with a lower risk of stroke, while activities during working hours or at home were not,” Viktorisson points out.

“Physically demanding jobs are often associated with stress, few opportunities for recovery, air pollution and generally poorer socio-economic conditions, which can counteract the positive effects of physical activity.”

Promote public health

The study used data from the INTERGENE cohort at the University of Gothenburg. Study participants were surveyed and data were collected from 2001 to 2004, which included both clinical and questionnaire data. The researchers hope that these results will raise awareness and lead to changes in public health policies to encourage physical activity in society.

“Encouraging people to be physically active in their daily lives, for example by walking, cycling and other types of exercise, could be an important strategy in reducing the number of strokes and improving the prognosis of people who experience a stroke ” says Viktorisson.