Aerobic Exercise Keeps Heart Healthy

To ascertain the role of increased physical activity on arterial stiffness, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, Dr. Kenneth Madden, from the University of British Columbia (Canada), and colleagues studied adults, ages 65 to 83 years, with controlled Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol.  The team divided the study subjects into two groups, one receiving 3 months of vigorous physical activity (one hour, three times per week) and the other getting no aerobic exercise at all.  An improvement was seen in the elasticity of the arteries of the group that performed the activity, with the team observing that: “There was an impressive drop in arterial stiffness after just three months of exercise. In that time we saw a 15 to 20 % reduction.” Commenting that: “People always underestimate what older adults can do,” Dr. Madden encourages more people to consult a physician to “learn how to [exercise] effectively and how to do it safely.”