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Physical Activity
Being inactive is a risk factor for: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, some cancers, and heart disease.
Not being physically active is one of the greatest risk factors for chronic disease that you can change. In fact, being inactive is a risk factor for:obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, some cancers, and heart disease. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, inactive people are twice as likely to have heart disease as active people. |
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Regular physical activity lowers your stress level, helps you reach and keep a healthy body weight, and improves your cholesterol levels and blood pressure which lowers your risk of heart disease. It also helps you do daily tasks more easily, be less fatigued, and keep your strength, flexibility, balance, and co-ordination. All of these help your health and allow you to take care of yourself.
To increase your heart health, plan to be active every day and be sure to include 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. Walking fast, swimming, cycling, skating, and dancing are some examples of moderate physical activity. Choose activities you enjoy doing with friends and family and make them part of your daily life. Get moving for a better heart!
Key References:
Health Canada (2007). Physical activity. Retrieved January 18, 2008, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/physactiv/index_e.html.
Sui, X., LaMone, M.J., Laditka, J.N., Hardin, J.W., Chase, N, Hooker, S.P., & Blair, S.N. (2007). Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity as mortality predictors in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 298 (21), 2507-2516.
