he U.S. Public Health Service conducted a study on the health of the people living in the United States. With the study’s findings, the researchers were able to determine which groups in the population posed high chances of developing heart disease.
The high-risk groups were noted to have factors that predispose them to heart disease. Such factors include sex and age, whereby males and people with ages over 35 are more prone to develop the disease. Moreover, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and high levels of fats in the blood greatly contribute to the risk as well. Another factor worth noting is having a history of cardiovascular disorders. Recently, researchers have found that people having highly anxious personalities comprise yet another high-risk group. Thus, harboring a severe case of any one of these factors or a combination of such further increases a person’s overall risk for having heart disease.
There are two general categories to these so-called heart-threats. The first covers natural factors which are well beyond a person’s control. These include sex, age, and heredity. On the other hand, those which can be controlled or avoided belong to the second category. These include smoking, having high blood pressure, and having high blood cholesterol levels—factors which cardiologists refer to as the “triple threat”. For instance, the risk of having a heart attack is twice as great for smokers. Moreover, a person fully indulging in the triple threat has a risk that stands five times greater than that of the normal.
While staying out of the triple threat zone lowers the hazard of having heart disease, another thing that can be done to keep the heart in superb shape is to practice cardio interval training.
Several studies have revealed the link between exercise and cardiovascular disease. One study compared the conditions of bus drivers and conductors, whereby the inactive drivers displayed significantly higher chances of heart disease than the dynamic conductors. Other experiments illustrated that exercise increases the links between damaged and functional blood vessels, thereby giving the heart better access to blood.
The heart banks on its collateral circulation, which consists of new blood vessels, to heal damaged vessels. The collateral circulation can actually develop prior to heart diseases. What’s more, heart attacks can be prevented if it has sufficiently developed to perform the functions of the damaged vessels.
But what paves the way for the early onset of the collateral circulation? The key lies in exercise, particularly the cardio interval training. This workout involves a cyclic switching from high intensity segments to low power recovery periods.
Cardio interval training brings several health benefits. First, it significantly lessens the risks of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. Second, it increases cardiac output. Third, it builds up lung capacity. Fourth, it speeds up the metabolism, thereby allowing more calories to be burned and aiding in weight loss. Finally, it helps one cope with stress.
The heart holds the key to regulating blood flow, which in turn dictates bodily activities. It’s time to ditch the old ways of the triple threat and to indulge in the cardio interval training instead.
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