A Workout a Day Helps Keep Heart Disease Away
It is common to hear on television or see articles on the internet stressing the importance of exercise and the health benefits associated with it. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that exercise has been linked to increasing energy levels, helping individuals lose weight, increasing quality of sleep, and reducing the potential onset of various chronic diseases. Previous studies have shown that exercise has contributed to a lowered risk of developing various heart diseases; however, these studies have not yet answered the question of whether exercise can lower the risk of heart disease for those with genetic predispositions. A recent study investigated the effects of exercise on individuals with genetic risks for cardiovascular disease in order to determine if exercise helped reduce the onset of disease.
The study collected information of 500,000 individuals from ages 40 to 69 with genetic predispositions to various types of heart disease, such as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Atrial Fibrillation (Afib), and Heart Failure. The team recorded information on smoking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and whether the participants had diabetes or not in order to determine if these factors had an influence on exercise ability along with associations to heart disease development. Participants in the study had their physical ability analyzed by measuring their strength, which was measured through grip strength, number of hours they were physically active per week, and data on cardiorespiratory fitness. The team collected cardiorespiratory fitness data by measuring oxygen consumption by the body during physical activity.
The study collected information of 500,000 individuals from ages 40 to 69 with genetic predispositions to various types of heart disease, such as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Atrial Fibrillation (Afib), and Heart Failure. The team recorded information on smoking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and whether the participants had diabetes or not in order to determine if these factors had an influence on exercise ability along with associations to heart disease development. Participants in the study had their physical ability analyzed by measuring their strength, which was measured through grip strength, number of hours they were physically active per week, and data on cardiorespiratory fitness. The team collected cardiorespiratory fitness data by measuring oxygen consumption by the body during physical activity.
For individuals ages 40-69, walking on a treadmill can help increase physical activity in a less stressful manner.
Image Source: Michael_Laut
The results of the study revealed two important relationships. The first finding was that accelerometry, or the quantification of movement patterns, led to a strong inverse relationship for the risk of premature death. The second finding was that increased grip strength and higher oxygen consumption during physical activity improved the physical conditions and lowered the risk of disease for people with genetic predispositions for Coronary Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation. This finding showed that increased strength can help compensate for increased genetic risk factors.
These findings are important because the research team was able to establish that the commonly known relationship between exercise and heart health also applies to those who have genetic risk factors for various heart diseases. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, where over 610,000 people die annually, so these findings hold extreme significance. Furthermore, Coronary Heart Disease is the most common form of heart disease and kills over 370,000 people annually. The age range in which the participants in the study were conducted is also significant since heart disease most commonly develops in people from the ages of 40 to 60; therefore, the reduction found in people in this age range further stresses the importance of this inverse relationship between exercise and disease.
These findings are important because the research team was able to establish that the commonly known relationship between exercise and heart health also applies to those who have genetic risk factors for various heart diseases. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, where over 610,000 people die annually, so these findings hold extreme significance. Furthermore, Coronary Heart Disease is the most common form of heart disease and kills over 370,000 people annually. The age range in which the participants in the study were conducted is also significant since heart disease most commonly develops in people from the ages of 40 to 60; therefore, the reduction found in people in this age range further stresses the importance of this inverse relationship between exercise and disease.
Featured Image Source: stevepb
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