Walking at least one to two hours every day could help to reduce the risk of stroke among older men, a new study has claimed.
Research by Barbara Jefferis at University College London, UK, published in Stroke, says that the length of time spent walking had a bigger impact on stroke risk than the speed of walking.
The study, part-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), followed 3,435 healthy men aged 60 to 80 over 10 years and incidences of stroke were recorded.
The men were divided into groups based on how much, on average, they walked per week. Men who walked 8 to 14 hours per week had approximately a one-third lower risk of stroke than men who walked less than 3 hours per week.
Dr Shannon Amoils, senior research advisor at the BHF, said: “Whatever your age it’s important to stay active every day.
“This research suggests a daily walk could help to reduce stroke risk and is further evidence that regular exercise – even a daily stroll in the park – can be an effective way to keep healthy.”
Jefferis B et al. The Protective Effect of time spent walking on Risk of Stroke in Older Men. Stroke 14 November 2013
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