QUESTION: I'm 43 years old, male, and lead a rather nonathletic life behind a desk.
Lately I have been thinking it's time to get in shape.
Could a running program help decrease my risk of heart attack?
ANSWER: Running has been found to help unfit middle-aged men to lessen the risk of heart disease.
In one 30 week study, some 50 sedentary middle-aged men took part in a structured training program.
The subjects all had full physicals before participating, during the experiment, and after the program ended. The important factors in monitoring heart disease serum cholesterol levels, plasma triglycerides, body weight, percent of body fat and blood pressure were all checked. As the study ended, the serum cholesterol level of the group had dropped an average of 12%, which is quite significant.
Another significant drop the resting blood pressure of the participants.
Many who participated also lost several pounds.
Another interesting effect of the training program was an increase in the peak exercise cardiac output an improvement in cardiac function. It can, therefore, be very helpful for middle-aged men who are unfit to get fit for their hearts' sake. But do not start the exercise program without getting a physical exam first.
Your doctor should do a cardiac stress test to make sure it's safe for you to begin a strenuous exercise program.
The other thing to remember is to train, not strain don't try to get fit overnight.
(That's dangerous).
It probably took you many years to get into your unfit condition, and it's just good sense to know that is going to take some time to reverse the situation. You might want to start with a brisk walking program and progress to running, as this will ease your body back into a physical state.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
