Raising weights is good for the heart, even if it is done sporadically



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American scientists have evaluated nearly 12,600 adults over a period of more than ten years and found that low weekly resistance exercises were linked to a 40-70% reduction in cardiovascular events.

But lifting weights more often did not reduce these risks.

"Strength training is not just about looking good without a shirt on the beach," said Dr. Alon Gitig, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Riverside Medical Group in Yonkers, NY.

"This has certain health benefits … and this seems to have a direct impact on cardiovascular health," added Gitig, who did not participate in the study.

Weightlifting uses muscular endurance to strengthen and increase the musculature. Other types of resistance exercises include pushups, squats and strides.

Duck-chul Lee, badociate professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University and author of the study, said that "traditionally, weightlifting was for athletes and I think that's it." why there is less evidence of its health benefits, especially for the heart. "

"People know that running or cardiovascular exercises are good for the cardiovascular system, but lifting weights has heart benefits that have not been well studied. [antes]Lee added in statements collected by journalist Maureen Salamon and published in HealthDay News.

In separate research, Lee and his colleagues found that less than an hour of weightlifting a week also reduced the risk of hypercholesterol and metabolic syndrome, a set of conditions related to diabetes. These reports were published in the Mayo Clinic's proceedings.

As part of heart and stroke research, researchers studied nearly 12,600 participants (average age 47) who underwent at least two clinical examinations between 1987 and 2006. The same participants reported their exercise levels. resistances and follow-ups were carried out more or less 5 and 10 years later.

The results indicated that the benefits of heart-risk and heart-stroke exercises were independent of aerobic exercises, such as walking or running, Lee said.

Compared with participants who did not exercise resistance, those who did one to three times a week and up to a total of 59 minutes each week experienced a risk reduction of up to 70%.

But the study has not shown that lifting weights prevents a heart attack or stroke, but only that there is an badociation.

"We discovered the benefits of resistance exercises without [cambios] "It means that even if you do not lose weight, you still benefit from the heart," Lee said. People believe that the benefits of exercise come from weight loss, but that's not true. "

Gitig, however, expressed reservations about the results. He stated that cardiovascular benefits "seem to be far more important than one would expect with strength training".

In addition, Gitig noted that the majority of participants were men and whites, who voluntarily attended the clinic where the study was conducted. "The question is whether some confounding variables have made these people healthier from the start," he said.

Despite everything, Gitig said he was not surprised to learn as much of the cardiovascular benefits badociated with weight lifting that he would have surprised 5 or 10 years ago.

He and Lee agreed that the adoption of a weightlifting routine gradually should be safe for people who are generally healthy and have no symptoms of cardiovascular or kidney disease. If you have any, consult the doctor first, advised him.

"I would inform my patients that [la investigación] It is very revealing and suggests that bodybuilding exercises are definitely a good thing in general and that they could have more powerful benefits than previously thought, "said Gitig, badistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine. Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York City.

And what if you do not have access to free weights or machines to train with weights? Digging in the yard and wearing big shopping bags also offers the benefits of strength training, noted Lee.

The study appears in a recent online edition of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

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