Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 6, 2014 7:11 PM IST
Researchers have suggested that maintaining or boosting one's physical activity after age 65 can improve their heart's electrical well-being and lower their heart attack risk. In heart monitor recordings taken over five years, researchers found that people who walked more and faster and had more physically active leisure time had fewer irregular heart rhythms and greater heart rate variability than those who were less active.
Heart rate variability is differences in the time between one heartbeat and the next during everyday life. Luisa Soares-Miranda, Ph.D., lead author of the study and a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and the Faculty of Sport at the University of Porto in Portugal, said these small differences are influenced by the health of the heart and the nervous system that regulates the heart. (Read:Soon, drug that stops heart attacks without side effects)
She said early abnormalities in this system are picked up by changes in heart rate variability, and these changes predict the risk of future heart attacks and death. The researchers evaluated 24-hour heart monitor recordings of 985 adults (average age 71 at baseline) participating in the community-based Cardiovascular Health Study, a large study of heart disease risk factors in people 65 and older. (Read: First aid for heart attack victims)
The study revealed that the more physical activity people engaged in, the better their heart rate variability. Participants who increased their walking distance or pace during the five years had better heart rate variability than those who reduced how much or how fast they walked. The researchers calculated that the difference between the highest and lowest levels of physical activity would translate into an estimated 11 percent lower risk of heart attack or sudden cardiac death. (Read: 10 things that happen during a heart attack)
The study has been published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
What is heart attack?
A heart attack also referred to as a myocardial infarction (MI), coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion. It usually occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked suddenly due to complete blockage of the artery supplying blood to the heart. This causes the heart muscle cells to die. The blockage of artery is often caused by plaque formation (deposition and hardening of fatty substances and cholesterol on the walls of arteries) resulting in coronary heart disease (CHD). If left untreated it can be fatal. Some of the symptoms of heart attack include feeling a tight band around the chest, shooting pain up and down the left side of your body,anxiety, cough, fainting, heavy pressure, palpitations, shortness of breath and sweating. Most people tend to ignore the initial symptoms of heart attack which causes greater damage to the heart. If you have thesewarning signs of heart attack, you should call your local emergency number right away. You can also take a look at these 9 expert tips to prevent heart attacks and also read why more and more women are suffering from heart disease. This section will also answer your common queries like why heart attacks are common in winters and how exercise helps in lowering the risk of heart attacks.
With inputs from ANI
For more on heart disease, check out our heart disease section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
