Eating Dinner After 9 PM Increases Risk of Stroke by 28% [Study]

Eating late at night may seem harmless, but it's not the case. A team of researchers found out it could increase one's risk of stroke.

Late Dinner Past 9 P.M. Increases Risk Of Stroke

A new study examined over 100,000 French individuals who filled out up to 15 food diaries detailing the timing of their meals on weekdays and weekends. They looked at people's risk of cardiovascular disease and when they ate breakfast and dinner.

Cerebrovascular disease, which includes strokes and mini-strokes that impair blood flow to the brain, is a subset of cardiovascular illness. It also had coronary heart conditions such as stable angina, heart attacks, and angioplasty patients' need for unclogging and narrowing of the arteries.

The third who ate dinner the earliest did so before 8 p.m., and the third who ate supper the latest did so after 9 o'clock. Those who ate dinner after 9 p.m. as opposed to before 8 p.m. were 28% more likely to suffer a stroke or mini-stroke, but they were not at risk for coronary heart disease. According to the study findings, a person's chance of having a stroke or mini-stroke increases by 8% for every hour that passes after they eat dinner.

During the seven years that the volunteers were followed up, there were about 2,000 incidents of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

According to the researchers, people have evolved to eat earlier in the day since there is evidence from animal studies that suggests eating later in the day causes blood pressure and blood sugar to rise.

Even though much more research is needed and meal timing is unlikely to have an impact, elevated blood pressure in the evening, when it is typically lower, could damage blood vessels over time and raise the risk of blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks.

"Like many people, my grandmother used to warn me not to have dinner too late, and this study suggests there may be some sense in that advice," said Dr. Bernard Srour, senior author of the study from the University of Sorbonne Paris Nord.

Life Expectancy After Mini Stroke

A person's life expectancy drops by roughly 4% in the first year after a mini-stroke compared to those without. A 2019 study found that life expectancy drops by 20% throughout the next nine years.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often known as a mini-stroke, can be caused by a momentary restriction in blood supply to a specific area of the brain. It does not cause permanent brain damage, even though it can cause symptoms similar to a stroke, such as weakness, disorientation, and numbness.

Half of all strokes occur within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, and the risk of stroke increases to 20% in three months following a TIA. For this reason, it's critical to treat microstrokes seriously and seek medical attention immediately.

Researchers look at relative survival rates to determine the impact of TIAs on life expectancy. This presents a comparison of life expectancy following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) between individuals who have had one and those who have not.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) increases the risk of stroke, particularly in the months that follow the TIA. Having a stroke can reduce one's life expectancy, even if some people recover fully.

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