According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and affects 84 million Americans. This heart disease, which is caused by blocked arteries, causes 2,200 deaths per day, or one death every 40 seconds. Despite these grim statistics, researchers originally thought that regular exercise could prevent CVD. However, according to Barbara Morrison, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, consistent exercise does not provide immunity against CVD.
Image Source: Thomas Barwick
Morrison and her team studied 798 adults, ages 35 or older, who engaged in physical activity at least three times per week. These adults included a range of athletes such as runners, cyclists, and hockey players. The researchers recorded their family history, activity levels, and blood pressure. For the subjects with abnormal results, Morrison and her team performed a CT coronary angiogram, which tested for CVD. They discovered that 11% of all the adults had significant CVD. Confirmed by previous studies as well, Morrison concluded that adults who exercised three times a week actually had a higher incidence of CVD compared to adults who exercised less frequently. However, the active adults were at a lower risk for heart attacks because of more stable plaque in the arteries from their regular exercise.
Despite these findings, Morrison suggests that the most effective ways to battle CVD are through consistent exercise and regular visits to the doctor to check blood pressure and cholesterol. If CVD is discovered, it’s not the end of the world because it is treatable, especially if discovered early enough. One way to decrease mortality from CVD is lowering blood pressure and cholesterol by taking medication, which becomes more effective for active adults. Even though exercise fails to prevent CVD on its own, it can help in treating CVD in conjunction with medication and in treating many other health problems such as cancer and depression.
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