"BRISK, BUT COMFORTABLE" A
NEW STUDY
REVEALS THE BEST PACE FOR YOUR HEART
Background
The pace that feels
right probably is. When it comes to fitness, a brisk, comfortable
walking pace strengthens the heart, researchers reported today at the
American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2003.
"A large segment
of the population still believes exercise must be vigorous, demanding or
involve more complicated activities than walking to adequately raise
one's heart rate. This perception of "no pain, no gain" can
discourage people from starting to exercise at all," said lead
investigator Kyle McInnis, Sc.D., professor of exercise science at the
University of Massachusetts in Boston. He and other researchers studied
a group of 84 obese adults, who were between 30 and 100 pounds
overweight, seeking professional advice on a safe level of exercise.
According to McInnis, "the results showed that when participants
self-selected a speed that was comfortable but brisk, their heart rate
and level of exertion was in a safe range but high enough to improve
their cardiovascular fitness." McInnis hopes that the results of
the new study will encourage sedentary people to begin exercising and
help to lower their risk for cardiovascular disease.
Obesity is a major
independent risk factor for heart disease. Most obese persons have one
or more additional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol or insulin resistance. Increasing physical activity is key
to reducing these risks, helping to reduce blood pressure, blood glucose
and cholesterol levels, and to significantly lower the risk of death and
disability from heart disease. The American Heart Association, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of
Sports Medicine recommend people walk or perform other
moderate-intensity exercises for at least 30 minutes five days or more a
week.
For more information on
exercise and cardiovascular disease please log on to www.americanheart.org.
