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Strength training better for the heart than aerobic exercise, study finds

20/11/2018

Strength training better for the heart than aerobic exercise, study finds

Strength training exercises benefit the heart more than aerobic activities, such as walking and cycling, new research suggests.


The survey of more than 4,000 American adults found that static exercise, like lifting weights, is more effective at reducing the risk of heart disease than cardiovascular exercise.


Specifically, while undertaking both static and dynamic exercise was associated with a 30% to 70% reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, the link was strongest for younger individuals who did static exercises.


Nevertheless, any amount of exercise brings benefits and doing both static and dynamic types is still better than focussing on just one kind, the researchers from St. George's University in St. George's, Grenada said.


Speaking about the findings of the research, Dr. Maia P. Smith, assistant professor at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George's University, said: “Both strength training and aerobic activity appeared to be heart healthy, even in small amounts, at the population level.”


Current American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines recommend that American adults should undertake at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity every week. The same guidelines also stipulate that said activity should be spread across the week and not completed in just one or two days.


Are you doing enough physical activity each week? If not, you could be increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.


[Related reading: Why being overweight increases your risk of cancer]

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