Should You Or Shouldn't You? Posted By : Gabriela Rosa

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
By: Gabriela Rosa
Post Date: 2012-11-01 Working out harder - not longer - reduces the risk of heart disease. It prevents metabolic syndrome - a combination of risk factors including obesity and high blood pressure. A study published in BMJ Open tracked peoples' baseline fitness habits, including workout length and intensity, for 10 years. Those who brisk walked or jogged 2-4 hours a week reduced their risk of MS by 35%-50%. It seems intense exercise "revs up" the cardiovascular system, lowering MS risk factors. Nineteen percent of inactive people develop metabolic syndrome. They don't put the "heart and sole" - of their exercise shoes - into healthy living.

Flu vaccine may lower risk of heart disease. A Canadian study analyzed 4 previous studies involving more than 3,000 people - average age 60 and some with previous heart disease. Participants were randomly assigned to get a flu shot, not to get a shot or to get a placebo shot. Then they were tracked for 1 year. Regardless of heart disease histories, those who had flu shots were 50% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke and 40% less likely to die from one. The flu clogs arteries with plaque and lowers levels of oxygen. Preventing those can prevent "heart-rending" events.

Extra pounds increase the risk of hospitalization. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity obtained the body mass index (height-weight ratio indicating degree of fatness) of about 250,000 adults ages 45 and older. Over the next 2 years the researchers discovered the risk of hospitalization increased 4% for every one BMI point increase - regardless of lifestyle and other health-related factors. One point equals 6-7 pounds. Extra weight seemed most linked to hospitalizations for diabetes, heart disease, chest pain, arthritis and asthma. Sixty-nine percent of Americans are overweight or obese - and seem to be "weighting for the other shoe to drop".

Lifelong smoking cuts women's lives by about11 years. A study published in The Lancet tracked more than 1 million women - average age 55 - from 1996 to 2011. Participants were surveyed about their lifestyle and were re-surveyed 3 years later. At the study's start 20% were smokers, 28% were ex-smokers and 52% never smoked. Those who stopped smoking by age 40 reduced their risk of dying from smoking-related diseases 90%. Those who stopped by age 30 reduced their risk 97%. The results of this study were similar to studies done with men. Obviously, we haven't "come along way, Baby".

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Additional Articles From - Home | Family | Pregnancy And Family PlanningAbout the Author:

Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting card companies. Presently she writes a 400-word news blog that is published 3 times a week. KNIGHT WATCH is a second look at uniquely interesting news items that requires only seconds to read at knightwatch.typepad.com.

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