Millions of Americans are at risk of a stroke if they exercise too hard, a study suggests.
Researchers found people with carotid artery stenosis, estimated to affect five percent of the country, are at risk of suffering sudden clots in the brain from simple activities like a brisk walk, swimming or even Zumba.
During strenuous exercise, plaque in major arteries can become dislodged and travel to the brain where it blocks a blood vessel — causing a stroke. It suggests that as many as 16.5million Americans may want to refrain from going all-out while they work out.
Carotid artery stenosis is a condition where plaques build up in the carotid arteries, narrowing the space that blood travels through.
These arteries run through the neck and are responsible for getting blood, containing vital nutrients and oxygen, to the brain and parts of the face.
Sudden rises in blood pressure, such as those during exercises, can cause plaques to be dislodged – which could trigger a stroke.
The number of Americans with carotid artery stenosis has surged over the last two decades, figures suggest.
In the early 2000s, it was estimated that about two million Americans had the condition. But now the Cleveland Clinic says about five percent of all adults have the condition — or 16.5million people.