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Going to college can reduce your risk of stroke

Posted on Jan 18th 2007 3:34PM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss

A study done in Europe shows that being well-educated lowers the risk of stroke for women. 48,000 Swedish women were followed over 10 years, and the data shows that those with less education had a much higher risk -- as much as two times greater -- of having a stroke than those with higher educations.

Researchers attribute the difference mainly to socio-economic status and associated lifestyle choices, like smoking and drinking alcohol. Many people are encouraged by this study because it confirms that educating people really can improve quality of life, and that making an effort to reduce your risk factors for stroke can have a huge impact.

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16 Comment

Tags: cardiovascular, cardiovascular disease, CardiovascularDisease, college, CVA, educate, education, heart attack, HeartAttack, knowledge, learn, learning, reduce risk, ReduceRisk, school, stroke, study, well educated, well-educated, WellEducated, woman, women, women's health, Women'sHealth

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mj 1-24-2007 @ 6:51AM

you state that going to college helps prevent strokes?
Well, i would like to know what help's the parents who struggle to put those kids through college?
I thought i'd have a stroke just working 2-3 jobs to put them through college.LOL

Webguyster 1-24-2007 @ 7:22AM

Do not forget to floss, it may prevent dementia. Keep funding these sciences!

Webguyster 1-24-2007 @ 7:29AM

Were these women told they were being followed?

Mary 1-24-2007 @ 8:13AM

Duhhh -I wonder who paid for this brilliant bit of research...

Kat 1-24-2007 @ 2:28PM

I had a stroke when I was 42 years old. I have a BA, a master's degree and a JD (law degree). All that education didn't help me.

Lia 1-24-2007 @ 8:33AM

Have they ever done a stroke study on people who have AOL dial up ?

Wayne Cooper 1-24-2007 @ 11:37AM

I am a retired Educated Male teacher of 36-years of working with Special Education. I loved my work and my students.
I am recovering from a mild stroke. Could the loss and change in Life bring this on? I do not smoke or drink.What is the cause of a stroke? Please E-mail me as I am doing my own research as how to deal with it. gooch2gooch@aol.com

Diane 1-24-2007 @ 4:02PM

The study didn't mention the side affects of going to college: ie
possible alcoholics, STD's, drug addictions. So a stroke is the least
of your worries! LOL

Melissa 1-24-2007 @ 11:13AM

I find this very ammusing.... considering that college sudents participate in more risky behavior.... with the partys every weekend... Many students (including women) start drinking and smoking in college. Maybe things are different in other countries, but I don't think that it's a college education or socioeconomic status alone that prevents stroke. I think it has more to do with having common sense.

Wayne Cooper 1-24-2007 @ 12:43PM

How can I join this group? I am with AOL
gooch2gooch@aol.com

Shanique 1-24-2007 @ 2:32PM

LOL @ Lia.

Mac 1-24-2007 @ 12:13PM

My mother holds two advanced medical degrees, has never smoked, rarely drinks alcohol, and, when she does, only in small amounts. As I write this, she's in an ICU, after suffering a stroke, this past Sunday night. Main contributing factor ? Snoring. That's right, what's referred to as sleep apnea. A condition where one snores, to such an extreme, that one's breathing is actually interrupted, altogether. My suggestion would be for anyone reading this, who has a history of snoring, to look up the available statistics, online, linking sleep apnea, to increased stroke risk. You don't have to be a college grad to do it.

johnny 1-24-2007 @ 4:01PM

Such is the issue with a study of association instead of causation. I agree, this is more about having common sense or maybe a higher income level- which dictates the quality of food you eat- and thus less potential for clogging the bloodstream and causing strokes. What I think is the real pity is that people wasted time and money doing this, instead of trying to cure cancer or something more worthwhile.

m 1-25-2007 @ 4:28PM

I am over fifty and
just received my Masters.
I was asked at work what is the value of all my degrees.
Hummm? Well, my grandmother was From Sweden, so maybe only smart Swedes live a higher quality life.

We shall see what the future brings.

Jane 1-24-2007 @ 10:37PM

The study is not saying anything new. Those who are more educated tend to have higher paying jobs and be of a higher socio-economic status, thus allowing them access to better healthcare. However, it doesn't say EVERY educated person won't get a stroke. Just because you know someone with a PhD who had a stroke, doesn't mean this study doesn't speak the truth the majority of the time.
And do you think college students really participate in riskier behaviors than those who don't go to college? Is college the only place to find bad behavior, are you serious? What about high school drop-outs who make nothing of their lives? And what does partying in college have to do with a stroke later in life? College enables many people to have a better life in the long run, though there are many intelligent people who don't go to college and still succeed in life. And how does having common sense prevent you from having a stroke?

Sara 1-24-2007 @ 11:06PM

Having common sense won't necessarily cause you to avoid a stroke. There's a difference between heart disease from clogged arteries, versus a clot that travels to your brain causing a stroke. Deadly clots occur in even the healthiest people. And they are not saying that not going to college CAUSES a stroke, they are only reporting the facts: those who go to college TEND to have strokes less than those who don't. It only makes sense, those with more education tend to have higher paying jobs, and thus have better healthcare. And I wasn't aware that college students are all alcoholics with STDs. How are these "side effects" of college? People who don't go to college don't experience these things? Funny, because I know more non-college people who have drug addictions than those who went.