A recent American Heart Association (AHA) Rapid Access Journal Report states that even moderate recreational physical activity can significantly decrease the risk of coronary heart disease developing in young women.
According to the report, the activity level did not need to be very strenuous to reduce heart health problems. Moderate exercise was beneficial for the obese, overweight and average-weight women in the study.
Specifically, the study asked women to spend a total of 2.5 hours doing moderate recreational physical activity each week. With this exercise regimen, the women who were under 50 years old lowered their coronary heart disease risk by 25 percent.
Countless studies have shown the significant benefits of physical activity, but these studies usually focus on older and middle-aged adults. Few studies show the benefits for women between 25 and 54 years old.
“Our reason for carrying out this study was primarily to focus on younger women,” Dr. Andrea Chomistek, lead author of the study and professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health - Bloomington, said. “We wanted to identify steps that young women could take to lower their incidence of coronary heart disease.”
The physical exercises included brisk walking for a minimum of 150 minutes each day.
“Most women can improve their heart health significantly by incorporating some moderate or vigorous physical activity into their regular routine,” Chomistek said. “Physical activity appears to be beneficial across the lifespan, regardless of body weight. It’s important to remember that any amount of activity is better than none.”
