Women Over 40 May Cut Stroke Risk With Mediterranean Diet

Aging and being a woman are two risk factors for stroke that you can’t control, but following a certain diet plan may help older women reduce their chances of this serious health event.A study published in September 2018 inStrokefound that women over age 40 who atea Mediterranean dietlowered their stroke risk by an average of 22 percent. Women have morestrokes, and die from more strokes, than men every year, and the risk of stroke for both sexes doubles every 10 years after age 55, according tothe American Stroke Association.

“Our research shows us that following a Mediterranean-style diet that is rich in fish, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and beans and lower in meat and dairy, may reduce stroke risk for women over 40,” says lead study author Ailsa Welch, PhD, a professor of nutritional epidemiology at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.

Researchers didn’t observe the same protective effect of thediet男人,没有风险reduction of 6 percent from following the diet, but, Dr. Welch says, “A healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone, both young and old.”

Prior research suggeststhe Mediterranean dietmay be especially helpful for preventing heart disease and stroke. For instance,an October 2017 meta-analysis inCritical Reviews in Food Science and Nutritionfound that the approach — and especially a diet high in olive oil, veggies, fruit, and legumes — may help protect against heart disease incidence and heart-disease-related death.

RELATED:5 Ways to Protect Yourself From a Stroke

Why the Mediterranean Diet May Protect Against Stroke in Women but Not Men

The current study results are based on the health data of about 10,600 men and 12,700 women in England. Participants were between ages 40 and 77 and kept track of their eating with seven-day diet diaries. During the 17-year study period, 2,009 strokes occurred.

Women in the study who closely adhered to a Mediterranean diet saw a protective effect against stroke regardless of their menopausal status or whether they underwenthormone replacement therapy.

“It is unclear why we found differences between women and men, but it could be that components of the diet may influence men differently than women,” says lead researcherPhyo Myint, MD, clinical chair of medicine at the University of Aberdeen School of Medicine in Scotland. “The differences we found may be due to differences in risk factors that affect women only or to differences in women’s response for risk factors such as[high] blood pressureand diabetes.”

Sarah Samaan, MD, acardiologist在德克萨斯州普莱诺贝勒Scott &白色健康,who was not involved in the study, says the results attest to the potentially beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet.

“Since the diet does appear to lowerheart attack riskin both men and women and also helps protect against other chronic conditions, includingdementiaand cancer, it is a good choice for most people,” says Dr. Samaan.

A review published in July 2017 inNutrientssuggests people who eat a Mediterranean diet appear to have a higher intake of brain-boosting nutrients such asvitamin B12,vitamin D, iron, zinc, calcium,folic acid, selenium, andiodine, potentially providing protection fromAlzheimer’s disease, the most commonform of dementia. Andan October 2017 review inNutrientssuggests the approach may also help lower the risk of severaltypes of cancer, includingcolorectal cancerand breast cancer.

“The fact that it may not be as protective against stroke for men as compared with women is no reason to avoid choosing this type of diet,” Samaan says.

Authors of the current study also found that participants who were already at highrisk of heart diseasehad an overall reduced stroke risk of 13 percent.

Welch says among the limitations of the research was that diets were only evaluated at the start of the investigation. “So we cannot exclude the possibility that people’s diets changed during the study period,” she says.

She also says that the participants lacked racial diversity, so there was not enough data to understand the relationship between diet and stroke for a nonwhite population.

“Future research needs to investigate why men and women differ in response to the Mediterranean diet, and if this is due to the differences in risk factors that affect women only, or whether women respond differently [to] risk factors such as blood pressure and diabetes,” says Welch.

RELATED:What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Stroke?

Factors that may increase older women’s risk of stroke include smoking,pregnancy, a history ofpreeclampsia/eclampsiaorgestational diabetes口服避孕药使用(尤其ally when combined with smoking), and postmenopausal hormone therapy, according to the American Stroke Association.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is decreased or completely cut off. This may be caused by a clot in a blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or by a burst or leak in a weakened blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Deprived of oxygen, brain cells can die, causing a loss of functions such as memory, speech, and muscle control.

RELATED:Think You’re Too Young for a Stroke? Think Again

Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Stroke and Related Health Complications

If you’re a woman and getting older, know that you can take steps to help lower your risk of stroke.The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokeadvises the following to reduce your chances:

• Quit smoking.Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of ischemic stroke twofold and of hemorrhagic stroke fourfold. Try usingnicotinereplacements, taking prescription medications, or other smartstop-smokingapproaches your healthcare provider recommends.
• Take care of your heart.Atrial fibrillation (afib),coronary artery disease, valve defects, and enlargement in your heart’s chambers can increase your risk of stroke.Afibin particular causes one in four strokes after age 80. Talk to your doctor if you have high blood pressure orhigh cholesterol. He or she may prescribeblood thinnersoraspirinor a cholesterol-lowering medication such as astatin.
• Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.Diabetes leads tohyperglycemia(high blood sugar) but can also damage blood vessels in your brain. People with diabetes are prone to high blood pressure, too, which can increase the risk of stroke.
• Lose weight if you need to.Having a highbody mass index (BMI)is associated with a higher risk of stroke. Fortunately, exercising, along with following a plant-based diet like the Mediterranean approach can help you maintain a healthy weight, according toa study published online in April 2018 inNutrition and Diabetes.
• Take steps to reduce the risk of a second stroke.If you’ve had a stroke or atransient ischemic attack(a shorter-term stroke that doesn’t cause permanent damage,the Mayo Clinicnotes), you’re several times more likely to have another episode. Taking steps to lower your chances of having another stroke is critical.

If a loved one is suffering a stroke, getting help fast can also lead to a better recovery, according to theNational Stroke Association. The organization recommends using theFASTsystem to help remember the warning signs of a stroke:

• Face droppingAsk the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arm weaknessAsk the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech difficultyAsk the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time to call 9-1-1If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.