We have known for years that exercise reduces the risk of heart disease and heart attack, now we have evidence that exercise can also reduce the risk of stroke. Frank B. Hu, MD, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health has discovered that women who engaged in moderate-intensity walking had a significantly reduced chance of suffering a stroke. Published in the June 14 edition of The Journal of The American Medical Association Dr Hu looked at 72,488 female nurses aged 40 to 65 years. The nurses were questioned about their exercise routines and followed for 8 years. In that time 407 women had strokes, their exercise history was analyzed closely to see if other factors such as high blood pressure or obesity could have contributed to their stroke. The researchers concluded "These data indicate that physical activity, including moderate-intensity exercise such as walking, is associated with substantial reduction in risk of … stroke in a dose-response manner". This study has several implication for ThirdAge women. The finding of a "dose-response" tells us that the more you exercise the greater the benefit. Another important finding is that you can derive substantial benefit form walking. In recent years there has been a debate in medical circles over the value of walking. Many doctors felt that more strenuous exercise was needed to show significant health benefit. Finally, the study showed that sedentary women who began walking later in life also benefited from their effort. The authors recognize the value of these findings since "walking is the most popular form of physical activity, especially among middle-aged and older women". The good news is it's not too late to start walking. However if you are not physically active now and plan to start please consult your physician first. Journal of Women's Health & Gender Based Medicine 2000 9:3,315-320