(Ivanhoe Newswire) Oct. 23, 2007 -- New research lays
out the science behind the effect exercise has on a person’s cardiovascular
risk.
Researchers from Harvard analyzed several risk factors and levels of exercise
for more than 27,000 women who had a new diagnosis of heart attack and stroke.
Women in the study ranged between 45 to 90 years old. Results show a 40-percent
reduced risk of heart attack and stroke between the highest and lowest exercise
groups. Researchers emphasize that the long-term benefits of exercise were seen
at relatively low levels of exercise -- just two hours of physical activity a
week.
In the study, researchers sought to understand the mechanisms behind the
benefits of exercise. They found Inflammatory and hemostatic biomarkers,
fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 together
made the largest contribution to lower risk (33 percent). Blood pressure was
next in line (27 percent). Researchers say inflammatory and hemostatic
biomarkers are novel risk factors that relate to blood vessel function and
inflammation of the arteries. They say these factors have overlapping functions
and roles and had the biggest effect in mediating exercise-related
cardioprotection, even more than blood pressure or body weight.
Samia Mora, M.D., from Harvard, is quoted as saying, “Regular physical activity
is enormously beneficial in preventing heart attack and stroke. We found that
even modest changes in risk factors for heart disease and stroke, especially
those related to inflammation/hemostasis and blood pressure can have a profound
impact on preventing clinical events. This study is the first to examine the
importance of a variety of known risk factors in explaining how physical
activity prevents heart disease and stroke.”
Additionally, the risk of having a heart attack and stroke decreased as the
levels of physical activity among women in the study increased.
SOURCE: Circulation, 2007;116: (???)
