Home Home Page

For immediate release
March 27, 2009

NEW ADVICE FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Preventive lifestyle changes crucial for cardiovascular health

ATLANTA – Heart health may be better protected and maintained with more recognition to the benefits of preventive measures – especially exercise, said an expert at today’s American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.

John Quindry, Ph.D., FACSM says people should be more aware of their heart attack risk factors, and fully realize the potential that preventive activity has for longevity and cardiovascular health, rather than relying solely on drug intervention. Risk factors can be divided into two segments: modifiable and non-modifiable.

Non-modifiable risk factors

• Age (45+ for males, 55+ for females)
• Family history of heart disease

Modifiable risk factors

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Cigarette smoking
• High cholesterol
• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle

Taking steps – literally – to alter one important risk factor, sedentary lifestyle, can act as a catalyst to cure other modifiable risk factors, according to Quindry.

“The bottom line is that to prevent heart disease, people need to be active,” he said. “Research shows that exercise consistently improves heart disease related factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions, so you’re essentially knocking out multiple risk factors through physical activity.”

Quindry added that the type of exercise performed is of little significance because, from biological and cardiovascular perspectives, the body doesn’t know the difference between a session on an elliptical machine or a brisk hike.

What’s more, it doesn’t take a vigorous session on a treadmill to improve heart health. ACSM supports the new federal recommendation of 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity physical activity – like taking a walk after dinner – which is easily achieved in 30 minutes/day, five days/week.

Beginning exercisers who have one or more cardiovascular risk factors are encouraged to seek exercise advice from their doctor. ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™ initiative asks physicians to review patients’ physical activity programs at every visit, to make exercise a standard part of health care. The Exercise is Medicine Web site features printable exercise prescription pads that doctors can use to counsel patients on their physical activity regimens.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 35,000 international, national, and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

-30-