2008 Woodie Awards
Healthy lifestyle lowers heart disease risk
Priscilla Blow
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Health
Men and women age 20 and older that are overweight or physically inactive are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. These diseases include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure.
Exercising and eating healthy are the best ways to prevent such diseases.
Being overweight, particularly in the abdominal region, can increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Carrying extra weight can also place immense strain on your joints.
The effort to stay at a healthy weight can be obtained by eating a well balanced diet and exercising regularly. Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or many other activities can help your heart. Whether it is included in a structured exercise program or part of a daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart.
The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity, state that all healthy adults ages 18-65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity, five days of the week.
In addition, drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood resulting in cardiovascular risks.
AHA recommends that individuals, who drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Consumption of alcohol are recognized as follows, one 12-ounce beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounce of 80-proof spirits, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits. Healthy living and good eating habits are the diagnoses to many health related diseases.
Exercising and eating healthy are the best ways to prevent such diseases.
Being overweight, particularly in the abdominal region, can increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Carrying extra weight can also place immense strain on your joints.
The effort to stay at a healthy weight can be obtained by eating a well balanced diet and exercising regularly. Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or many other activities can help your heart. Whether it is included in a structured exercise program or part of a daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart.
The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity, state that all healthy adults ages 18-65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity, five days of the week.
In addition, drinking too much alcohol can raise the levels of some fats in the blood resulting in cardiovascular risks.
AHA recommends that individuals, who drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Consumption of alcohol are recognized as follows, one 12-ounce beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounce of 80-proof spirits, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits. Healthy living and good eating habits are the diagnoses to many health related diseases.
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