'How to use Exercise to prevent Heart Disease'

Exercise And Heart Disease

Are you aware cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States. About 57,000,000 Americans have one or more forms of the disease , while some 945,000 people died of CVD last year alone. This year as many as 1.5 million Americans will have a new or reccurent heart attack and about one-third will die as a result. Although there are many types of CVD, the majority of deaths are attributed to coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery disease results from a condition called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the process in which deposits of fatty substances, especially LDL chloesterol and triglycerides, chemical agents from cigarettes, or high blood pressure contribute to a gradual narrowing in the opening of the blood vessels. This process takes place over many years and eventually the narrowing is so severe that blood vessels cannot supply the heart with adequate blood flow. Eventually the effected organs will suffer. When atherosclerosis occurs in the coronary arteries it is called coronary artery disease. When the coronaries are unable to meet the heart's demands for oxygen, myocardial ischemia occurs. This condition, known as silent ischemia, is a form of coronary artery disease that is devoid of any symptoms. It is real and can be life threatening.

CAD is considered a lifestyle disease, because of all the contributing factors to its development. It is largely due to those factors that we can control. Hundreds of studies, most notably the Framingham, MA study, have investigated the specific causes of CAD, all which have led to the development of a list of risk factors- both identifiable and non-identifiable. Smoking, high blood pressure, high chloesterol and physical inactivity are considerded by the American Heart Association to be the 4 major causes. It is fortunate then, that CAD is a highly preventable condition and physical activity is recognized as a highly effective strategy for preventing and possibly reversing the atherosclerotic process.

Exercise can help control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes and obesity. In addition, aerobic exercise adds independent blood pressure lowering effect in certain hypertensive groups. Exercise training results in decreased myocardial oxygen demands for the same relative workload while it provides an increase in myocardial function through maintaining or increasing myocardial oxygen supply. Furthermore, increases in HDL, and decreases in triglycerides provide added protection from CAD risk. Recent studies suggest that people who have been sedentary and are now becoming active and those who are currently physically active showed a decline in CAD risk.
What are you waiting for get Exercising and prevent CAD today!

Have a happy and healthy day!

Yours In health & Fitness,

Natalie Pyles

Medical Exercise Specialists, Fitness & Weight-loss Expert, Author, & Speaker

Call Me For Your FREE Fitness Consultation Today! 1-800-681-9894 or480-212-1947 e-mail fitnesselementsassociates@yahoo.com 0r fax 623-399-4199