More than 81 million American adults are living with one or more types of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Before age 75, men are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than women. Regular aerobic exercise is one way to lower your risk and to treat this leading cause of death.
Risk Factors
Among the key risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. If you're overweight, obese, diabetic or do not cope well with stress, you may also be more at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Aerobic exercise helps to treat these risk factors.
Prevention
Aerobic exercise involves repeatedly moving your large muscles for an extended period. It causes you to breathe faster and more deeply, increasing oxygen levels in your blood. In 2007, researchers from Columbia University found that aerobic exercise prevents cardiovascular disease by reducing systemic inflammation, which reduces fatty build-up in the arteries, which contributes to most cases of heart disease.
Recovery
If you suffer a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or bypass surgery, regular aerobic exercise can help to improve your heart rate, blood pressure and stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped from the left ventricle during one heart beat or contraction. It can also help to lower blood cholesterol, improve arterial blood flow and prevent future cardiovascular problems, according to studies presented at EuroPrevent 2009, the congress of the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.
Time Frame
Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week will give you the cardiovascular benefits you need; but 60 minutes provides even more health benefits. alking is an easy way for people at different fitness levels -- including those who are obese -- to get aerobic exercise. Even if you do not lose weight, you will still boost your cardiovascular fitness.
Precaution
Speak to your doctor before starting an aerobic exercise program, especially if you have any risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes or if you've already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
References
- American Heart Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics
- MayoClinic.com: Men's Health: Preventing Your Top 10 Threats
- Psychosomatic Medicine: Aerobic Exercise Attenuates The Tnf Alpha Response To Lps Stimulation
- European Society of Cardiology: More Evidence for the Benefit of Exercise in Cardiovascular Disease
- DukeHealth.org: Moderate Exercise Yields Cardiovascular Benefits
- Ohio State University Medical Center: Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
