Cardio may be good for a thinner physique, but now there’s a new reason to shape up–it could delay the onset of high cholesterol for up to 15 years. New research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology highlights evidence showing that men who are cardiovascular fit often delay a rise in blood cholesterol levels often associated with aging, though no statistics are currently available for women.
Still, this is a major finding–one that could also lower a man’s risk of other heart problems in the long run, such as blood clots and heart disease.
“Age-related changes in cholesterol levels are usually unfavorable,” says Xuemei Sui, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., author of the study and an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. “Our study sought to determine how cardiorespiratory fitness might modify the aging trajectory for lipid and lipoproteins in healthy men.”
Using data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, researchers surveyed over 11,000 adults who received health examinations between 1970 and 2006 at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, TX. Researchers specifically singled them out to measure their cholesterol levels, which were recorded during this study. Researchers also measured their cardiovascular fitness using a treadmill test, ranking their cardiovascular health by age and fitness level.
From here, they measured how many of those with good cardiovascular health had good cholesterol levels, and the news was good–those with high cardiovascular levels developed high cholesterol nearly 15 years later than those who weren’t physically fit.
In addition, those who weren’t fit were more likely to develop high cholesterol earlier in life–even in their early 20s.
For researchers, these findings are remarkable.
“These findings suggest that improving cardiorespiratory fitness levels may delay the onset of dyslipidemia,” says Yong-Moon Mark Park, M.D., who helped research the study. “Promoting this healthy lifestyle factor may also help to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.”
While further evidence is pending, researchers and experts alike agree on one thing: Exercise is good for you.
“It is important to now direct efforts towards translating these findings to clinical and preventative practice,” says Paolo Boffetta, M.D., a professor of medicine at the Institute of Translation Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Greater emphasis needs to be made on educating the public on the importance of exercise and clinicians should help counsel patients on fitness regimens.”
What This Means For You
While this study only investigated the effects of exercise on men, it still delivers a powerful message to everyone: Exercise is the best way to stay healthy. To improve your own cardiovascular fitness, start making cardiovascular exercise a top priority, whether that’s finding more time to walk, run, or even cycle outdoors.
Readers: How do you personally exercise?
Source:
Study Shows Increased Cardiorespiratory Fitness May Delay Onset of High Cholesterol in Men (Press Release) – EurekAlert.org
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