Team Sports can Reduce Stroke Risk by 40 Percent among Menopausal Women: Study

Team sports help offset risks of heart diseases and stroke among menopausal women, according to a study.

  Previous studies have proved the link between reduced estrogen levels during menopause and various heart conditions like atherosclerosis or hardening of arteries.

Michael Nyberg, lead author and postgraduate fellow at the University of Copenhagen, says in a news release, "Results demonstrate that blood pressure among postmenopausal women is 10 percent higher immediately after menopause than in similarly-aged, premenopausal women. They also had higher levels of an early marker of atherosclerosis."

The study conducted by the University of Copenhagen's Center for Team Sports and Health, examined the effects of indulging in team physical activities and sports training on the blood pressure and vascular functions among 10 pre-menopausal and 13 recently post-menopausal women. The average age of the participants from each group was 48 and 51 respectively. The researchers chose twice-weekly sessions of floorball-a type of floor hockey played mostly in Scandinavia and moderately popular in the U.S. for the participants and recorded blood pressure details before and after the trial for 12 weeks.

The blood pressure rates were reduced by four millimeters of mercury indicating 40 percent lower chances of stroke risk. The levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules or inflammation in protein building surface of cell and the levels of endothelin or vessel constricting proteins in plasma and skeletal muscle reduced,  marking  a 20 percent  reduced risks of atherosclerosis.

The authors believe that team sports that include interval exercise are a good opportunity to ward off health defects triggered by reduced estrogen levels. Floorball gave these women an intense training with many short sprints, directional changes, pulse increasing moves that imparted great health benefits in just 12 weeks.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly 350,000 American women aged below 50 succumb to heart diseases. The increase in deaths due to heart disease is seen among women who are 10 years post-menopause. Experts recommend weekly 150 minutes of physical activities like walking, dancing and aerobics.

Jens Bangsbo, coauthor and director of the University of Copenhagen's Centre for Team Sport and Health said, "The fact that participants thought that it was fun and enjoyed being with other women also lead to their insistence on continuing with the sport after the study's conclusion - which addresses a fundamental issue: How is it possible to motivate and not least, keep people interested in a healthy physical activity. Team sport is the answer."

The research is published in the American Journal of Physiology.