Hundreds of Strokes Found to Be Avoidable
A University of Manchester study has found that hundreds of strokes could be prevented each year if patients suffering from "mini-strokes", or transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), were assessed sooner by specialist clinicians. Researchers found that almost two thirds of patients attending what are termed 'rapid access' TIA clinics took more than the recommended seven days to be seen by a professional. A transient ischaemic attack is a temporary weakening of one side of the face and corresponding arm which drastically increases a person's chances of suffering from a major stroke within days of the symptoms. Some studies have put the risk as high as a one in for probability.
Researchers found several factors to be associated with later physical activity, such as the mother's level of activity during pregnancy, season of birth, one or both parents' physical activity when the child was aged 21 months, and having an older sibling. The author's believe that the mother's activity during pregnancy is not likely to be a biological factor and, instead, indicates that mothers who are physically active during pregnancy are more likely to remain active after pregnancy, which can influence a child's level of physical activity.
The authors' say that, "We have shown that early life factors have limited influence on later physical activity in 11 to 12 year olds, but that children are slightly more active if their parents are active early in the child's life". The authors believe that helping parents increase their level of physical activity may promote children's activity and curb childhood obesity trends.
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