359. Stress significantly raises the risk of a stroke
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Close to 800,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the U.S., with someone experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds. A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open suggests that stress raises the risk of a stroke dramatically. Researchers in Ireland collected data from more than 26,000 people in 32 countries. People who had severe work stress were more than twice as likely to have an ischemic stroke, or a stroke caused by a blood clot, than people with no work stress. They had a five times higher risk of a hemorrhagic stroke, or a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain. Stress at home, such as divorce or family conflict, also increased the risk of stroke. Some of the ways to decrease your risk of stroke are to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, lower high blood pressure, avoid smoking, and find ways to manage your stress.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
