Bodybuilding could improve heart health

Washington DC – According to a recent study, while all physical activity is beneficial to heart health, static activities such as weight training are more associated with reducing the risk of heart disease than dynamic activities such as walking and cycling.

The new research was presented at the 2018 ACC conference in Latin America in Lima, Peru.

It is well known that physical activity is important for heart health. Strength training has shown the most benefits.

"Strength training and aerobic activity seemed to be beneficial to the heart, even in small amounts, at the population level," said Maia P. Smith, PhD, MS, epidemiologist statistician and assistant professor at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine of St. George University in St. George's, Grenada.

"Clinicians should advise patients to exercise independently of reality – both types of activity were beneficial. However, static activity seemed more beneficial than dynamic and patients who practiced two types of physical activity performed better than those who simply increased the level of a type of activity. "Smith added.

The researchers analyzed cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, overweight, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, based on self-reported static and dynamic activity (strength training or walking / walking). bicycle) of 4,086 US adults using data from the 2005-2006 national report. Survey of health and nutrition examinations. Researchers then adjusted for age, ethnicity, gender, and smoking, and then stratified by age: 21 to 44 or over 45 years of age.

In total, 36% of youth and 25% of older adults engaged in static activities and 28% of youth and 21% of older adults engaged in dynamic activities.

The researchers found that participation in one or the other type of activity was associated with cardiovascular disease risk factor rates lower by 30 to 70%, but that the associations were the same. stronger for static activity and in young people.

"What's interesting to keep in mind is that static and dynamic activities were almost as popular among older people as young people, and I think this gives clinicians an opportunity." to tell their older patients that they will fit perfectly in the gym or road race.It's important to make sure they are practicing physical activity, "Smith said.

Smith also said that future research and data collection should use physical activity definitions separating static activity from dynamic activity in order to further investigate the independent effects.

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