Cardiovascular Health News
Sedentary Behaviors
Dr. David Alter from the University of Toronto, Canada, reports that extensive sitting and inactivity can be bad for your health, even if you exercise regularly - and it's worse if you don't. More than half of the average person's waking hours are spent sitting; commuting, working in front of a computer or watching TV. Sitting for long periods of time is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and premature death. These findings were identified through his analysis of multiple studies. Dr. Alter recommends standing and walking two to three minutes every half hour. As standing or walking burns more calories than sitting, developing this habit may also help you control your weight.
New Blood Pressure Goal
The National Institute of Health reports findings of a study of people aged 50 and over that maintaining a systolic blood pressure (the upper number) under 120, reduces rates of cardiovascular events by almost a third and the risk of death by almost a quarter, compared with targeting a top number of 140 (the target of current guidelines.) Cardiovascular events include heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Patients who are being treated for hypertension, are advised to talk to their doctors to determine whether this lower goal is best for their individual care. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems. An estimated 1 in 3 people in the United States have high blood pressure.
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