An estimated 7 million Americans are living with a stroke, which is a
leading cause of long-term disability. The major contributor to the anticipated increase
of 4 million strokes by 2030 is hypertension, which is close to a ~25% increase in
prevalence from 2010. Survivors are more sedentary than the average person, thus
increasing the likelihood of falls and other chronic diseases. To increase their
cardiovascular health, regular exercise is recommended. Also, regular exercise can help
decrease the ~800,000 annual strokes in the United States. This is important in that
strokes are the 3rd leading cause of death with huge medical cost. Fortunately, it is now
medically recognized that exercise medicine improves aerobic capacity, physical
functioning, and quality of life.
Keywords: Comorbid conditions, Exercise medicine, Exercise testing,
Hemodynamic response, Resistance training, Stroke survivors, Stroke-related
medical costs.
