It’s no secret that exercise is good for you – it can help keep your weight down, improve your mood, and protect your heart. But you may not know that staying active doesn’t just mean hitting the gym. Moving more throughout your day, even if it’s just taking a brisk walk or doing some light chores, can also reduce your risk of stroke. So, get up and get moving – your body will thank you for it.
A sedentary lifestyle can have a profound impact on your health. However, activity can help offset the negative effects of too much sitting, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and type 2 diabetes.
While meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise a week may seem daunting, even small changes can make a big difference. For example, standing up and taking a short walk every 30 minutes can help reduce the risk of stroke by up to 50 percent. Doing some simple chores around the home can also provide adequate exercise to reduce stroke risk. So, next time you find yourself sitting for long periods of time, remember to stand up and move around frequently to offset the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
The Study
For this new study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers measured physical activity in 7,600 adults aged 45 and older. They then compared the data to the incidence of stroke over a seven-year period. All participants wore a hip-mounted accelerometer, a sensitive motion detector that records physical activity and the duration of sitting and inactivity.
The results found that those who were sedentary for 13 hours or more a day had a 44% increased risk of having a stroke. However, researchers stressed that if reaching 10,000 steps a day or doing intense aerobic exercises seems out of reach, doing some simple chores around the home, or taking short walks may be an effective strategy in reducing the likelihood of having a stroke.
Promoting Brain Function
Cognitive function and brain health are important issues as we age. As this study suggests, even doing simple chores around the home can help to reduce the risk of stroke.
But for brain function, The Smart Pill can be an excellent way to help with concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function. It offers a unique blend of nine ingredients that help support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo Biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps boost circulation, fight free radicals, and help to promote clear thinking.