"Breastfeeding is not only good for babies there is growing evidence it may also reduce the risk for stroke in postmenopausal women who reported breastfeeding at least one child according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association the Open Access Journal of the American Heart AssociationAmerican Stroke Association. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among women aged  and older and is the third leading cause of death among Hispanic and black women aged  and older according to the study. Some studies have reported that breastfeeding may reduce the rates of breast cancer ovarian cancer and risk of developing Type  diabetes in mothers. Recent findings point to the benefits of breastfeeding on heart disease and other specific cardiovascular risk factors said 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 MedicineWichita. This is among the first studies to examine breastfeeding and a possible relationship to stroke risk for mothers as well as how such a relationship might vary by ethnicity. Researchers analyzed data on  participants in the Womens 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  and . All women in this analysis had delivered one or more children and  percent reported ever having breastfed. Among these women  percent breastfed for onesix months  percent for seven months and  percent for  or more months. At the time of recruitment the average age was . years and the followup period was . years. After adjusting for nonmodifiable stroke risk factors such as age and family history researchers found stroke risk among women who breastfed their babies was on average    percent lower in all women    percent lower in black women    percent lower in Hispanic women    percent lower in white women and    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. If you are pregnant please consider breastfeeding as part of your birthing plan and continue to breastfeed for at least six months to receive the optimal benefits for you and your infant Jacobson said. Our study did not address whether racialethnic differences in breastfeeding contribute to disparities in stroke risk. Additional research should consider the degree to which breastfeeding might alter racialethnic differences in stroke risk Jacobson said. Because the study was observational it couldnt establish a causeandeffect relationship between breastfeeding and lower stroke risk meaning that it is possible some other characteristic that distinguishes between women who breastfeed and those who dont is the factor changing the stroke risk. However because the Womens Health Initiative is large researchers were able to adjust for many characteristics and the effects of breastfeeding remained strong Jacobson said. Breastfeeding is only one of many factors that could potentially protect against stroke. Others include getting adequate exercise choosing healthy foods not smoking and seeking treatment if needed to keep your blood pressure cholesterol and blood sugar in the normal range Jacobson said. The study was also limited by the relatively small number of strokes that occurred during the followup period just . percent of the women experienced a stroke during the study period and . percent reported having had a stroke prior to the study and by the Womens Health Initiatives exclusion of women who had already had severe strokes at the time of recruitment. Currently the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for six months with continuation of breast feeding for one year or longer. For babies health the American Heart Association recommends breastfeeding for  months with transition to other additional sources of nutrients beginning at about four  six months of age to ensure sufficient micronutrients in the diet.  Frontiers The Heartland Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical EducationKansas Bioscience Authority funded the study. The WHI was supported by the National Health Lung and Blood Institute. Coauthors are Erinn M. Hade Ph.D. Tracie C. Collins M.D. M.P.H. M.H.C.D.S. Karen L. Margolis M.D. M.P.H. Molly E. Waring Ph.D. Linda V. Van Horn Ph.D. R.D. Brian Silver M.D. Maryam Sattari M.D. M.S. Chloe E. Bird Ph.D. Kim Kimminau Ph.D. Karen Wambach Ph.D. and Marcia L. Stefanick Ph.D. Author disclosures are on the manuscript. Additional Resources   Available multimedia including photos and an audio interview are on the right column of the release link  httpsnewsroom.heart.orgnewsbreastfeedingmayhelpprotectmothersagainststrokepreviewceddcddbff   After Aug.  view the manuscript online.   Story on previous JAHA study June   Breastfeeding may reduce a mothers heart attack and stroke risk   Follow AHAASA news on Twitter HeartNews httpstwitter.comheartnewslangen   For updates and new science from JAHA follow JAHA_AHA httpstwitter.comjaha_ahalangen   Follow the researcher on Twitter ltj_ http_ Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the associations policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations including pharmaceutical device manufacturers and other companies also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https About the American Heart Association  The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke  the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallasbased association is the nations oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved call AHAUSA visit heart.org http or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter."