Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health

<Tab/>Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in America. Almost 954,000 Americans died last year from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for over 42 percent of all deaths. The lack of physical activity is now shown to be a risk factor for heart disease. Estimates are that up to 250,000 deaths per year in the U.S., about 12 percent of total deaths, are due to a lack of regular physical activity. The relative risk of …

…report essentially sedentary lifestyles. Even low-to-moderate intensity activities, when done for as little as 30 minutes a day, can bring benefits. These activities include pleasure walking, climbing stairs, gardening, yard work, moderate-to-heavy housework, dancing and home exercise. More vigorous aerobic activities, such as brisk walking, running, swimming, bicycling, roller skating and jumping rope -- done three or four times a week for 30-60 minutes -- are best for improving the fitness of the heart and lungs.