Exercise reduces stroke risk
middle-aged men, a new study suggests. Dr. Timo A. Lakka ofthe
University of Kuopio,...
Exercise can help reduce the onset of carotidatherosclerosis in middle-aged men, a new study suggests. Dr. Timo A. Lakka ofthe University of Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues found that the men whoexercise showed the slowest progression of carotidAtherosclerosis - a build-up of plaque in neck arteries that can increase therisk of stroke. The researchers studied 854 Finnish men aged 42 to 60 yearsand used exercise tests to measure the men's physical fitness at the beginningof the study, and again four years later.After controlling for other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, highcholesterol and obesity, the researchers found that the men who were in the worstphysical condition showed the greatest progression in atherosclerosis at thefour-year follow-up. Full findings are published in the January issue of theAnnals of Internal Medicine.
