Lifestyle factors influence the stroke risk of Chinese people when they emigrate to the United States.
The incidence of stroke is higher in China than in the United States. When people migrate to the US from China you might, therefore, expect their risk of stroke to alter, depending on what kind of lifestyle changes they make.

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York have compared two groups of Chinese immigrants - 134 who had had stroke, and 132 who did not, half of whom were men and with average age 74. Those in the non-stroke group were more likely to reduce salt and sugar intake. This is a positive move, because salt consumption can be very high in China, where salt is often used as a preservative for fish and meat. This group was also more likely to eat fish regularly and drink fruit juice than the stroke group were.

In the non-stroke group, more people had been exercising regularly over the last 20 years. Nearly one third had improved their job status, compared to before, in China, but more of those in the stroke group said their job situation had worsened. The study paints a picture of immigrants who have a stroke having a worse diet and more stress in their lives than those who do not have a stroke. Further study is being carried out but clearly people who move from one country to another have much to gain by taking up the healthier habits of their adoptive country.