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Forman, Adrienne, and Neil Stone. "Diet and Lifestyle Changes That Treat Coronary Heart Disease." 24 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/diet-and-lifestyle-changes-that-treat-coronary-heart-disease.htm> 16 May 2008.
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Exercise to Treat Coronary Heart Disease
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Exercise to Treat Coronary Heart Disease
Exercise is a great way to treat coronary heart disease -- and you don't have to be an elite athlete to protect your heart. Evidence suggests that light to moderate levels of physical activity lower the risk of heart disease. In a study of nearly 40,000 women aged 45 years and older, women who walked for at least one hour a week were reportedly half as likely to get coronary heart disease as those who did not walk regularly.
In fact, those who have the most to gain are those who currently engage in no physical activity. In a study of 6,200 men, those who were the least fit and had cardiovascular disease had more than four times the risk of dying than those who were most fit. However, the biggest jump in the rate of death was between the group of men who were the least fit and the group of men who were the next-to-least fit. This indicates that those who are least fit can do the most to decrease their risk of dying of cardiovascular disease by slightly increasing their level of physical activity. Like the women who walked an hour a week, the health benefits of even light to moderate levels of physical activity are impressive.
Data from the Framingham Heart Study showed that of those over the age of 50 who engaged in moderate physical activity, men added 1.3 years in total life expectancy and enjoyed 1.1 additional years without cardiovascular disease, and women added 1.5 years in total life expectancy and enjoyed 1.3 additional years without cardiovascular disease. Of those over the age of 50 who engaged in a high level of physical activity, men added 3.7 years in total life expectancy and enjoyed 3.2 additional years without cardiovascular disease, and women added 3.5 years in total life expectancy and enjoyed 3.3 additional years without cardiovascular disease. This suggests that moderate physical activity is beneficial for a healthier and longer life; however, higher levels of activity are even more healthful.
Not only does exercise seem to protect against the onset of coronary heart disease and decrease the risk in those who already have it, but evidence also suggests that it benefits those who have had a coronary event. Physical activity has been shown to improve oxygen delivery after coronary revascularization procedures, such as coronary bypass surgery, which improve blood flow to the heart. After a heart attack, regular, moderate physical activity can also help make it easier to perform daily tasks without shortness of breath or chest pain, and exercise can lower the risk of another heart attack and increase the chances of surviving a subsequent heart attack.
Stress is an important factor to consider as well. To find out how stress management can help treat and prevent coronary heart disease, see the next page.
To learn more about coronary heart disease, see:
- Metabolic Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease: Having metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Learn the signs of metabolic syndrome and the importance of properly managing this serious condition.
- Benefits of Exercise: Exercise is essential to physical and mental health. Explore the many benefits of regular exercise on both body and mind.
- Coronary Heart Disease: Coronary heart disease is a serious condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Find out what coronary heart disease is and what you can do to lower your risk.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Forman, Adrienne, and Neil Stone. "Diet and Lifestyle Changes That Treat Coronary Heart Disease." 24 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/diet-and-lifestyle-changes-that-treat-coronary-heart-disease.htm> 16 May 2008.
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