Locations where housing poses a health risk

Abdallah Shahin 2 months ago

The risk of stroke is among the most significant of these housing-related health hazards, according to reports that have just lately been published and revealing the locations that are thought to pose a significant threat to human health.

places dangerous to one's health

A recent study found that those over the age of 50 who lived in locations with a large selection of fast food restaurants, which the study referred to as "food swamps," had an increased chance of having a stroke.

The demographic group with the highest incidence of strokes

According to Al Sharq News Channel, a study that will be presented at the International Stroke Conference from February 8 to 10 in Dallas, United States, found that people over the age of 50 who lived near places that provide fast food and an unhealthy food environment known as "food swamps" were more likely to have a stroke than those who lived in areas with fewer retail and fast food options. The conference will take place in the United States.

places rich in food swamps

The phrase "food quagmire" was coined more than a decade ago to describe neighbourhoods that are flooded with bad eating options due to the prevalence of fast food restaurants and convenience stores. These communities lack access to good food options, which led to the coinage of the phrase.

The perils of residing in close proximity to "fast food" food swamps

A researcher from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center named Dixon Young stated that despite the advancements that have been made in stroke care, it is still a significant issue, and certain individuals will still be at danger.

Unhealthy eating habits have been shown to have a bad impact on blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels, all of which contribute to an increased risk of stroke.

There have been no investigations on whether or not there is a link between the incidence of stroke and the historical prevalence of living in regions with a high consumption of unhealthy foods. In contrast, the researchers investigated circumstances in which unhealthy dietary choices were more likely to be related with an increased risk of stroke in this particular study.

The link between living in an area with a lot of fast food restaurants and having a stroke was discovered.

The researchers analysed the data that was obtained from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and compared it to the information that was obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture concerning regions that contain fast food restaurants or locations that provide healthy foods.

Participants in the study totaled almost 17 thousand individuals, with a mean age of 64 years and a female participation rate of 54%. For the indicator of the food environment, we have developed two different categories.

"The two categories were chosen for comparison because prior research has revealed that a retail food environment index score of 5 or above may be able to predict the prevalence of obese persons in a neighbourhood," said Yang. "The comparison was made because of this information."

And the participants in the study reported suffering a stroke at a rate of 3.8%. When compared to those who resided in neighbourhoods with a lower incidence of fast food outlets, those who fell into the "unhealthy food environment index" group had a stroke risk that was thirteen percent greater than the national average.

The majority of the people who had strokes lived in regions with six times as many options for unhealthy food as there were for healthy food.