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Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among women aged 65 and older. Some studies have reported that breastfeeding may reduce the rates of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in mothers. Breastfeeding is good for babies, it may also reduce the risk of stroke in post-menopausal women who reported breastfeeding at least a child.
According to Lisette T. Jacobson, Ph.D., M.P.A., M.A., lead author of the study and assistant professor in the department of preventive medicine and public health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, recent findings show the benefits of breastfeeding on heart disease and other specific cardiovascular risk factors.
Researchers analyzed data on 80,191 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative observational study, a large ongoing national study that has tracked the medical events and health habits of postmenopausal women who were recruited between 1993 and 1998. All women in this analysis had delivered one or more children and 58 percent reported ever having breastfed. Among these women, 51 percent breastfed for one-six months 22 percent for seven-12 months and 27 percent for 13 or more months. At the time of recruitment, the average age was 63.7 years and the follow-up period was 12.6 years.
After adjusting for non-modifiable stroke risk factors (such as age and family history), researchers found stroke risk among women who breastfed their babies was on average: 23 percent lower in all women, 48 percent lower in black women, 32 percent lower in Hispanic women, 21 percent lower in white women, and 19 percent lower in women who had breastfed for up to six months. A longer reported length of breastfeeding was associated with a greater reduction in risk.
Breastfeeding is one of many factors that could potentially protect against stroke. Others include regular exercise, eating healthy foods, healthy lifestyle, keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in the normal range.