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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lifestyle 'doubles stroke risk' | Lifestyle 'doubles stroke risk' |
| (3 days later) | |
| Unhealthy lifestyles are associated with more than double the risk of a stroke, a UK study has reported. | Unhealthy lifestyles are associated with more than double the risk of a stroke, a UK study has reported. |
| Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not taking enough exercise and eating few vegetables and little fruit contribute to the chances of a stroke, it found. | Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not taking enough exercise and eating few vegetables and little fruit contribute to the chances of a stroke, it found. |
| Just a small proportion of the 20,000 adults studied had healthy enough lifestyles to protect against the condition, researchers said. | Just a small proportion of the 20,000 adults studied had healthy enough lifestyles to protect against the condition, researchers said. |
| Strokes cost the UK £7bn a year, the British Medical Journal article added. | Strokes cost the UK £7bn a year, the British Medical Journal article added. |
| Previous studies have shown that lifestyle behaviour, such as smoking and diet, are associated with the risk of heart attacks and stroke, but the impact of a combination of risk factors in apparently healthy people has been less clear. | Previous studies have shown that lifestyle behaviour, such as smoking and diet, are associated with the risk of heart attacks and stroke, but the impact of a combination of risk factors in apparently healthy people has been less clear. |
| Even small changes to our lifestyle, such as an improved diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and being active, can reduce your risk of stroke Joanne MurphyThe Stroke Association | Even small changes to our lifestyle, such as an improved diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and being active, can reduce your risk of stroke Joanne MurphyThe Stroke Association |
| In the latest study, led by the University of East Anglia, researchers gave one point for each "healthy behaviour" reported by the participants, aged between 40 and 79. | In the latest study, led by the University of East Anglia, researchers gave one point for each "healthy behaviour" reported by the participants, aged between 40 and 79. |
| One point was given to those who did not smoke, one point awarded for drinking just one to 14 units of alcohol a week, one point for consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and one point for being physically active. | One point was given to those who did not smoke, one point awarded for drinking just one to 14 units of alcohol a week, one point for consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and one point for being physically active. |
| A significantly higher percentage of women than men scored a maximum of four. | A significantly higher percentage of women than men scored a maximum of four. |
| The study found those who scored zero points were 2.3 times more likely to have a stroke in the 11-year follow-up than those with four points. | The study found those who scored zero points were 2.3 times more likely to have a stroke in the 11-year follow-up than those with four points. |
| For every point decrease in the scores, there was an increase in likelihood of stroke, the researchers said. | For every point decrease in the scores, there was an increase in likelihood of stroke, the researchers said. |
| Some 259 people did not score any points, of whom 15 had a stroke - at a rate of 5.8%. | Some 259 people did not score any points, of whom 15 had a stroke - at a rate of 5.8%. |
| But the most common score was three - achieved by 7,822 individuals, of whom 186, or 2.4%, had a stroke. | But the most common score was three - achieved by 7,822 individuals, of whom 186, or 2.4%, had a stroke. |
| Around 5,000 achieved the healthiest score of four, which was associated with an absolute stroke risk of 1.7%. | Around 5,000 achieved the healthiest score of four, which was associated with an absolute stroke risk of 1.7%. |
| Findings 'worrying' | Findings 'worrying' |
| The researchers said the results could provide further support to the idea that small differences in lifestyle affect stroke risk. | The researchers said the results could provide further support to the idea that small differences in lifestyle affect stroke risk. |
| Study leader Dr Phyo Myint said: "Over the study period we observed six people for every 100 participants who had no health behaviours suffered a stroke compared to about one to two people for every 100 participants who had four positive health behaviours. | Study leader Dr Phyo Myint said: "Over the study period we observed six people for every 100 participants who had no health behaviours suffered a stroke compared to about one to two people for every 100 participants who had four positive health behaviours. |
| "Together with the substantial existing body of evidence about modifiable behaviours and stroke risk, this may provide further encouragement to make entirely feasible changes which have the potential to have a major impact on stroke." | "Together with the substantial existing body of evidence about modifiable behaviours and stroke risk, this may provide further encouragement to make entirely feasible changes which have the potential to have a major impact on stroke." |
| In an accompanying editorial, Dr Matthew Giles, from the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, pointed out that the small proportion of participants with a lifestyle that protected against stroke meant a huge shift in behaviour would be needed to achieve any benefit. | In an accompanying editorial, Dr Matthew Giles, from the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, pointed out that the small proportion of participants with a lifestyle that protected against stroke meant a huge shift in behaviour would be needed to achieve any benefit. |
| Joanne Murphy, a spokeswoman for The Stroke Association, said that with obesity levels on the rise, the findings were worrying. | Joanne Murphy, a spokeswoman for The Stroke Association, said that with obesity levels on the rise, the findings were worrying. |
| "A stroke is a brain attack, it happens when the blood supply is cut to the brain, it causes brain cells to die and results in brain damage," she said. | "A stroke is a brain attack, it happens when the blood supply is cut to the brain, it causes brain cells to die and results in brain damage," she said. |
| "It's the third biggest killer and if it doesn't kill it can leave you severely disabled. | "It's the third biggest killer and if it doesn't kill it can leave you severely disabled. |
| "However, even small changes to our lifestyle factors, such as an improved diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and being active, can reduce your risk of stroke." | "However, even small changes to our lifestyle factors, such as an improved diet, drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and being active, can reduce your risk of stroke." |
| Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: "The message is loud and clear. Just one of these healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference to your risk of a stroke. | |
| "And each additional change can bring it down even further. Every reason therefore to switch to healthier living, sooner rather than later." |