Study Shows Women's Heart Risk Reduced by Exercise and Activity
A study of 906 women, published in the Sept. 8, 2004 "Journal of the American Medical Association," showed that activity, or lack of it, was the biggest predictor of heart disease. The women were given angiograms to detect heart disease. They were assessed for weight and BMI, with 76% being overweight and of those 41% obese. But those risk factors did not result in more heart disease. Instead, assessing physical activity, the least active women showed the most evidence of heart disease. Weight did not matter. Exercise and activity matters.Get Active
"Because physical fitness has beneficial effects on many factors related to cardiovascular risk – including obesity – increased activity appears to be an ideal therapy for women with coronary heart disease. The American Heart Association's prevention guidelines recommend that women accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most or all days of the week. Physical fitness assessment and intervention should be included in the management of all women at risk for heart disease," said Dr. Bairey Merz, who holds Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Chair in Women’s Health and serves as national spokesperson for the Women's HeartAdvantage campaign.Start Walking, Keep Walking
Walking is a great way to put more activity into your day. Enjoy these free programs to get you moving more and feeling great.Let's Get Walking: Daily beginners program
Walk of Life 10-Week Program: Daily support for walking and weight loss
Step Counters: Daily tips for pedometer walking
