The Perils of Life in the Country

Every summer, many Torontonians leave the city—along with its noise, traffic and crowds—for a relaxing vacation at a cottage. It is widely believed that the trees, fresh air and slower pace of country life are beneficial to our mental and physical health.

 

Despite these benefits, living in the country can have disadvantages. For example, stroke and stroke-related deaths are more common in rural communities than urban centres.

 

A stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to a part of the brain, which can lead to brain damage. This damage can cause permanent disabilities, including paralysis, memory loss and difficulty swallowing or talking. The risk of stroke can be lowered through a healthy lifestyle and medications.

 

Dr. Moira Kapral, a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, led a study to better understand why rural residents are at a higher risk of stroke than their urban counterparts.

 

By examining the health records of more than 6.2 million Ontarians, she discovered that rural residents were more likely than urban residents to smoke, be obese, consume large amounts of alcohol or have poor heart health. Each of these factors increases the risk of stroke. 

 

Her findings also indicated that rural residents were less likely to be screened for stroke risk factors, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, and that these factors were less likely to be controlled through medications or lifestyle changes.

 

“Our findings support the need for enhanced identification and management of stroke risk factors in rural settings. Further research is also needed to identify other factors—such as variations in care, income or education—that are linked to higher rates of stroke in rural communities,” says Dr. Kapral.