NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) – Strokes have tripled in recent years among middle-aged women in the U.S., an alarming trend doctors attribute to the obesity epidemic.
Nearly 2 percent of women ages 35 to 54 reported suffering a stroke in the most recent federal health survey, from 1999 to 2004. Only about half a percent did in the previous survey, from 1988 to 1994.
The percentage is small because most strokes occur in older people. But the sudden spike in middle age and the reasons behind it are ominous, doctors said in research presented Wednesday at a medical conference.
It happened even though more women in the recent survey were on medicines to control their cholesterol and blood pressure — steps that lower the risk of stroke.
Women’s waistlines are nearly two inches bigger than they were a decade ago, and that bulge corresponds with the increase in strokes, researchers said.
That’s me. Or it could be me. My weight has been creeping up. And up. And up. And most of it is around my waist. This blog is my attempt to stop the madness.
For starters, I will be using this blog as a food diary and exercise log. The format will probably evolve while I decide on the best way to keep track of my health. We shall see.
What I ate today:
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Sticky bun
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Milk – 2% – 1 cup
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Fish – herb encrusted tilapia
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Rice
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Veggies – California blend (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
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Pineapple slice (it was under the fish)
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Chocolate chip chocolate cookie
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Coffee w/ half ‘n half
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Popcorn w/ parmesan (6 qts.)
Some healthy choices and some not, but not everything is black and white. The cookie kept me from my usual afternoon trip to the vending machine. Popcorn is a good snack… if you don’t overindulge.
Exercise: Snow shoveling.
And I ordered a windbreaker from L.L. Bean, in anticipation of better weather, when I can resume my power walking.
