Does Living Near Fast Food Restaurants Increase Risk Of Stroke?
Posted February 20, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
We all know that gorging on fast food is a sure way to pack on the pounds, but U.S. researchers are trying to determine if simply living near the greasy joints could be detrimental to your health.
A recent study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference suggests that those who live in neighbourhoods packed with fast-food restaurants are more likely to suffer strokes.
Residents in one Texas county, which had the highest concentration of such establishments, also had a 13 percent higher risk of having a stroke, as opposed to those who lived in areas with the fewest such restaurants.
The study doesn’t prove that living near fast food spots raises the risk of stroke, but it does suggest some sort of link.
It’s not yet clear if being surrounded by them makes you more likely to eat fried, heavily processed foods, or if their presence is merely a sign of an unhealthy area.
But experts all agree that steering clear of fast food is a good idea if you hope to achieve optimal health.
“When we look at fast food in general we’re seeing higher sodium, higher saturated fat, and especially higher transfat content in fast foods, too,” notes Nicole Springle, Director of Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic.
“When you’re in a rush, if you don’t have time then, you know, you’re going to go for what’s quick and easy.”
Signs and Symptoms Of A Stroke (Heart And Stroke Foundation)
