Frequent fizzy pop drinkers are 22% more likely to have a stroke than those who don’t, a study has found. Strokes are a leading killer across the world, with 38,000 people dying after suffering one in the UK every year.
Many people who do survive are left with life-long issues including those affecting their speech and mobility. Now researchers have looked at how different drinks affect the risk of having a stroke.
The experts looked at the drinks consumed by 27,000 people from 27 countries across the world. This included almost 13,500 who had suffered their first stroke.
They discovered those who regularly enjoy fizzy drinks, whether low sugar or regular, were linked with a 22% increased chance of stroke. This increased significantly with two or more drinks a day.
Fruit juices also had a mixed effect. Those which were freshly squeezed were more likely to be better for you while many shop-bought ones with concentrates, added sugars and preservatives saw a 37% increase in the chance of stroke.
Changing drinks might not work either. Those considering switching to coffee might need a rethink – the team found drinking more than four cups of coffee a day also led to a 37% increased chance of stroke.
There was some good news however – drinking three to four cups of black tea reduced the risk by 29%. Green tea meanwhile cut it by 27%. Drinking more than seven cups of water a day also cut the risk.
Scientists from the University of Galway in Ireland, working with McMaster University in Canada and an international network of stroke researchers carried out the study into the condition which is the second top cause of death across the world. According to the World Health Organisation strokes killed 6.5m people in 2023, falling only behind ischemic heart disease.
In the UK 100,000 people have strokes each year – one every five minutes – according the Stroke Association. There are 1.3m people living in the UK today who survived having a stroke.
Lead researcher on both studies Professor Andrew Smyth, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at University of Galway and Consultant Physician at Galway University Hospitals, said: “Not all fruit drinks are created equal – freshly squeezed fruit juices are most likely to bring benefits, but fruit drinks made from concentrates, with lots of added sugars and preservatives, may be harmful. Our research also shows that the chance of stroke increases the more often someone consumes fizzy drinks.”
The study showed the link between fizzy drinks and stroke risk was higher in Eastern and Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Women showed a greater increase in stroke risk associated with fruit juice intake.
Professor Martin O’Donnell, Executive Dean of College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway and Consultant Stroke Physician at Galway University Hospitals, co-leads the INTERSTROKE study in partnership with Professor Salim Yusuf of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, Canada.
Professor O’Donnell said: “A key goal of the INTERSTROKE study is to provide usable information on how to reduce one’s risk of stroke. While hypertension is the most important risk factor, our stroke risk can also be lowered through healthy lifestyle choices in diet and physical activity. The current study adds further information on what constitutes healthy choices on daily intake of beverages.”