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Introduction
Tobacco and Cardiovascular Disease
Physical
Activity and Cardiovascular Disease
Diet
and Cardiovascular Disease
Summary |
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Physical Inactivity and CVD |
Table of Interventions
Physical
Activity Resources Listing
Physical Activity WEB Page
What is physical activity, and
how do "physical activity,""exercise," and
"physical
fitness" differ?
Physical activity is any
bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in
energy expenditure. Exercise is structured activity and tends to have fitness as its goal. Physical fitness is something you
acquire--a characteristic or an attribute one can achieve by
being physically active. We now know that all types of physical
activity can produce significant health benefits. One does not
have to achieve a high fitness level to achieve health benefits. Therefore, the focus of this manual is on physical activity and how to promote it through the community.
What is the
connection between physical activity and CVD?
Regular physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in general and of coronary heart disease mortality in particular. Existing data are not conclusive regarding a relationship between physical activity and stroke. The extent of decreased risk of coronary heart disease attributable to regular physical activity is similar to that of other lifestyle factors, such as abstaining from tobacco use. Regular physical activity prevents or delays the development of high blood pressure, and exercise reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension. Physical activity can also lower blood cholesterol levels which then decrease the risk of developing CVD.
What are the
benefits of physical activity?

- *Reduces the risk of dying
prematurely.
- *Helps control weight.
- *Helps control blood glucose levels
for persons with diabetes.
- *Helps control blood pressure.
- *Helps control blood cholesterol
levels by increasing HDL cholesterol levels (HDL-C).
Remember, HDL-C has been called "good"
cholesterol. That's because research has shown that high
levels of HDL-C are linked with a lower risk of coronary
artery disease.
- *Helps build healthy bones, muscles,
and joints (prevents osteoporosis).
- *Reduces feelings of depression and
anxiety.
- *Reduces the risk of colon cancer.
- *Helps older adults become stronger
and better able to move about without falling.
- *Improves blood circulation throughout
the body. The heart, lungs, and other organs and muscles
work together more effectively.
- *Improves your body's ability to use
oxygen and provide the energy needed for movement.
- *Promotes psychological well-being.
- *Can help smokers cut down or stop
smoking.
Is physical inactivity a public
health problem?
Yes. Physical activity
is a widely achievable means to a healthier life. According to
the 1994 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
survey, 68% of the adult population reported little or no
leisure-time physical activity. Since 1984, there has been a
general upward trend in inactivity from 61%. Physical activity
levels vary by age, education, and income level. At least half of
adults in every age, education, and income group were sedentary
in 1994. Fewer adults with higher incomes and educations are
sedentary. Lower levels of sedentary lifestyle were associated
with increased income and, especially, increased education. West Virginia ranked 4th worst among 50 BRFSS participants in
sedentary lifestyles. National data suggest that physical
inactivity accounts for approximately 25% of all deaths from
chronic diseases in the United States.
How much
physical activity is enough to prevent disease and promote good
health?
Current recommendations
focus on a lifestyle approach to increasing physical activity. In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine recommended, "Every American adult should accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity over the course of most days of the week." Moderate physical activity would include brisk walking, climbing stairs, expending more energy in house and garden activities, and engaging in active recreational pursuits.
Previously, recommendations specified
guidelines regarding frequency, intensity, and duration of
activity. Examples of these activities include fast walking,
running, cycling, swimming, or aerobic classes. Recent physical
activity recommendations include both the structured and
lifestyle approaches to increasing physical activity. Either
approach is beneficial for an inactive person, and individual
interests and opportunities should determine which is used.
Additional health and functional benefits of physical activity
can be achieved by adding more time in moderate-intensity
activity, or substituting more vigorous activity.
Who should
consult a physician before starting a physical activity program?
The health risks
associated with a sedentary lifestyle far outweigh the risks
associated with being active. Most adults of any age may begin a
program of moderate activity, such as walking, without medical
evaluation. Only those with known cardiovascular disease, or
those who have had a major cardiovascular event such as a heart
attack, stroke, or heart surgery, will require an evaluation by
their physician before engaging in a moderate physical activity
program.
Previously inactive men over the age of 40, women over the age of 50, and people at high risk for CVD should first consult a physician before embarking on a program of vigorous physical activity to which they are unaccustomed. Other individuals who should consult with a physician before engaging in strenuous activities are those who use tobacco or have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, family history of heart disease, or diabetes). It would be prudent for individuals with degenerative bone conditions, or for middle-aged and older persons who plan to embark upon a program of vigorous physical activity, to obtain a physician's evaluation as well.
Why are so few West Virginians
physically active?
In the fall of 1995, a
study of the "barriers to leisure-time physical activity in
West Virginia" was implemented via the West Virginia
University Survey Research Center, the West Virginia University
Prevention Research Center, and the West Virginia Bureau for
Public Health. The sample was drawn from a population of
noninstitutionalized adults (18+ years of age) with household
telephones who lived in West Virginia during the survey period.
The main reasons respondents did not currently exercise regularly were: time constraints, health problems, work responsibilities, and poor motivation. Additional reasons included child care issues, feeling too tired, family responsibilities, already active at work, already active at home, and being too old. Respondents most frequently listed walking as the activity they would like to begin. Most respondents (81%) stated they would prefer physical activities that their family could do together. However, 54% said they would use exercise facilities or attend classes if they were available near their homes or worksites.
Recommendations to increase physical
activity by health care providers influences 64% to participate
in regular exercise. However, only about one third (32%) of
respondents stated that their health care provider recommended
that they participate in regular physical activity. Social
support for increasing physical activity was not perceived as a
problem for most respondents.
Additional barriers to participating in
physical activity could be: neighborhood safety, lack of access
to parks and recreational areas and the inability to afford a gym or health club membership.
Conclusions
Since time seems to be the main barrier to an active lifestyle, physical activity needs to be a part of our everyday environment (at the worksite, at home, and part of
family activities). We can restructure our worksites by: parking farther away, utilizing steps, encouraging walking/activity breaks, advocating for reduced insurance premiums for physically active lifestyles, etc. We can promote more family role models, family-structured activities, and incentives for family participation wherever physical activities are provided. We can work with our own local communities to structure sidewalks, rezone walkways and bikeways, restrict traffic in playground areas, and promote open play areas.
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