The Womens Health Initiative is in the process of testing how and why women are less likely to suffer from complications associated with a stroke.
This study is sponsored by the U.S. government and aims to examine why estrogen may protect women and why testosterone leaves men open to brain injury.
Men are twice as likely as women to suffer a stroke and the research team have come to no other conclusions than testosterone in men may leave them more vulnerable to the physical effect of a stroke.
Professor Patricia Hurn of Oregon Health and Science University is confident her teams work and what they hope to uncover in the future studying testosterone and how a stroke affects men.
“We think this approach, coupled with examining brain stroke injury at the molecular and cellular level, is the best way to get at some of the underlying issues that have challenged us scientists for so long,” she says.
With this current evidence, it seems that those who want to maintain overall health should follow a well-balanced diet low in saturated fats and processed foods. Those who hope to enhance their overall well-being may also want to start taking nutritional supplements. 