Physical activity cuts cardiovascular risk

Lee  I.M. at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA published an article in the Jul-Aug 2010 issue of Current Sports Medicine Reports suggesting that physical activity helps cut the risk for coronary artery disease.

Lee says in the report that epidemiological data shows that men and women who engaged in high levels of physical activity had lower rates of cardiovascular disease.

Evidence suggests that 150 min per week of moderate-intensity physical activity reduces the risk even though longer physical activity such as 300 min per week of moderate-intensity physical activity or the equivalent in vigorous or moderate plus vigorous activities can result in additional reductions in cardiovascular disease risk.

Even those who have acquired coronary artery disease can benefit from physical activity which helps reduce risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke in those with coronary artery disease.

Another new study led by Dr. Alpa Patel and colleagues from the American Cancer Society suggests that sitting too long in one's leisure time could increase risk of all-cause death.

The study published online July 22 in the American Journal of Epidemiology had followed 53,400 men and 69,776 women for 14 years.

The researchers found those who spent more time sitting were more likely to die from all causes compared to those who spent less time sitting.

The associations were particularly strong for cardiovascular deaths.

Jimmy Downs