Can a leisurely nine-minute stroll once a day reduce a woman's
risk of coronary heart disease? A five-year study of some
40,000 women
found that a little exercise, such as walking one hour a week,
halved the risk of heart disease compared to women with no
reported physical activity. Women with other risk factors,
such as smoking, high cholesterol levels and obesity, greatly
benefited.
According to the authors of this study published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association, these results should
encourage women who have no leisure-time physical activity,
as the benefits are great and the effort is minimal. It was
the amount of time spent walking, not the pace, that counted,
the study found; women who strolled benefited as much as those
who walked more rigorously. A brisk walk is more effective,
but any kind of walking appears to be beneficial.
So keep that body in shape! You'll look better, you'll feel
better, and you'll be protecting your heart against disease.
Ask your doctor of chiropractic for more information.
Reference:
Lee IM, Rexrode KM, Cook NR, et al. Physical activity and
coronary heart disease in women. The Journal of the American
Medical Association 2001:285(11), pp. 1447-1453.
For additional information on women's health, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/women.html.
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