Want to reduce your heart attack risk? Do this kind of exercise
Heart disease is the nation's top killer, with more than 371,000 Americans dying of coronary heart disease in 2022.
"Aerobic exercise training should be promoted above all else," Dr. Luke Laffin, a preventive cardiologist and co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic, told the media.
Aerobic exercises include walking or jogging, swimming or cycling - even dancing.
These exercises raise your heart rate, with your cells using oxygen to produce energy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They typically use large muscle groups in the body, too.
Laffin says multiple studies have shown aerobic activity is better than other types of exercise when it comes to reducing the result of a heart attack. Here's what you should know...
There's a reason they call it cardio Aerobic activity - also known as cardio, referencing the Greek word for the heart - exercises the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, getting the heart to beat faster, according to Mayo Clinic.
Over time, regular cardio can mean can mean your heart doesn't have to work as hard, Cleveland Clinic notes.
Aerobic exercise can strengthen the blood vessels, improve the flow of oxygen throughout the body, lower blood pressure, increase "good" cholesterol, and help to reduce the risk of heart disease - including coronary heart disease - and stroke. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack.
Anaerobic exercise, including strength and high intensity interval training, can also strengthen the heart and lungs. But, the benefits are different.
"Aerobic exercise and resistance training are the most important for heart health," Johns Hopkins exercise physiologist Kerry Stewart said. "Although flexibility doesn't contribute directly to heart health, it's nevertheless important because it provides a good foundation for performing aerobic and strength exercises more effectively."
So, what can you do? Well, federal health authorities say American adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week. That's also what Laffin recommends, although the benefits grow if you do oven more.
The Baylor College of Medicine says splitting the 150 minutes into 30-minute intervals allow for five active days and two rest days.
"Jog, swim, golf, hike, play basketball, dance, do yoga - whatever you love to do. The most important thing is to get out there and do it," UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiologist Dr. Ben Levin advises.
The Independent
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Guns kill more US children than other causes
More American children and teens die from firearms than any other cause, but there are more deaths — and wider racial disparities — in states with more permissive gun policies, according to a new study. The study, published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics on June 9, analyses trends in state firearm policies and kids' deaths since 2010, after the landmark US Supreme Court decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago. The ruling struck down the city's handgun ban, clearing the way for many states to make it easier for people to buy and carry guns. The study authors split states into three groups: 'most permissive,' 'permissive' and 'strict,' based on the stringency of their firearm policies. Those policies include safe storage laws, background checks and so-called Stand Your Ground laws. The researchers analysed homicide and suicide rates and the children's race. Using statistical methods, the researchers calculated 6,029 excess deaths in the most permissive states between 2011 and 2023, compared with the number of deaths that would have been expected under the states' pre-McDonald rules. There were 1,424 excess deaths in the states in the middle category. In total, about 17,000 deaths were expected in the post-decision period, but 23,000 occurred, said lead author Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, in an interview. Among the eight states with the strictest laws, four — California, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island — saw statistically significant decreases in their pediatric firearm death rates. Illinois, which was directly affected by the court's decision in the McDonald case, and Connecticut saw increases in their rates. In Massachusetts and New Jersey, the changes were not statistically significant. The rate increased in all but four (Alaska, Arizona, Nebraska and South Dakota) of the 41 states in the two permissive categories. (Hawaii was not included in the study due its low rates of firearm deaths.) Non-Hispanic Black children and teens saw the largest increase in firearm deaths in the 41 states with looser gun laws. Those youths' mortality rates increased, but by a much smaller amount, in the states with strict laws. Experts say the study underscores the power of policy to help prevent firearm deaths among children and teens. The analysis comes less than a month after the release of a federal report on children's health that purported to highlight the drivers of poor health in America's children but failed to include anything on firearm injuries — the leading cause of death for children and teens in 2020 and 2021, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trauma surgeon Dr. Marie Crandall, chair of surgery at MetroHealth medical center and a professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, researches gun violence. She previously practiced at a Jacksonville, Florida, urban trauma unit, where she frequently saw children and teens caught in gun violence. 'When I see children come in with 10 holes in them that I can't save — that is a loss. That is a completely preventable death, and it is deeply emotionally scarring to have to have those conversations with families when we know, as a society, there are things we could do to de-escalate,' said Crandall, who wasn't involved in the new study. In her state of Ohio, firearm death rates among children and teens increased from 1.6 per 100,000 kids in the decade before the McDonald decision to 2.8 after it, according to the study. Ohio was categorised in the group with the most permissive laws. The study adds to previous research that shows state laws around child access to firearms, such as safe storage and background checks, tend to be associated with fewer child firearm deaths. 'We know that child access prevention decreases unintentional injuries and suicides of children. So having your firearms locked, unloaded, stored separately from ammunition, decreases the likelihood of childhood injuries,' Crandall said. 'More stringent regulation of those things also decreases childhood injuries.' But she said it's hard to be optimistic about more stringent regulation when the current administration dismisses gun violence as a public health emergency. The Trump administration earlier this year took down an advisory from the former US surgeon general, issued last year, that emphasised gun violence as a public health crisis. Faust, the lead author of the new study, stressed that firearm injuries and deaths were notably missing from the Make America Healthy Again Commission report on children's health. He said the failure to include them illustrates the politicisation of a major public health emergency for America's kids. 'It's hard to take them seriously if they're omitting the leading cause of death,' Faust said. 'They're whiffing, they're shanking. They're deciding on a political basis not to do it. I would say by omitting it, they're politicising it.' Faust and pediatric trauma surgeon Dr. Chethan Sathya, who directs the Center for Gun Violence Prevention at the Northwell Health system in New York, each pointed to the development of car seat laws and public health education, as examples of preventive strategies that helped reduce childhood fatalities. They support a similar approach to curbing youth gun deaths. 'We really have to apply a public health framework to this issue, not a political one, and we've done that with other issues in the past,' said Sathya, who wasn't involved in the study and oversees his hospital's firearm injury prevention programmes. 'There's no question that this is a public health issue.' In Louisiana, which the study categorised as one of the 30 most permissive states, the child firearm mortality rate increased from 4.1 per 100,000 kids in the pre-McDonald period to 5.7 after it — the nation's highest rate. The study period only goes to 2023, but the state last year enacted a permitless carry law, allowing people to carry guns in public without undergoing background checks. And just last month, Louisiana legislators defeated a bill that would have created the crime of improper firearm storage. Louisiana Democratic state Rep. Matthew Willard, who sponsored the safe storage legislation, said during the floor debate that its purpose was to protect children. Louisiana had the highest rate of unintentional shootings by children between 2015 to 2022, according to the research arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for stricter gun access. Willard cited that statistic on the floor. But Republican opponents said Willard's proposal would infringe on residents' gun rights and make it more difficult for them to use guns in self-defense. 'Nobody needs to come in our houses and tell us what to do with our guns. I think this is ridiculous,' Republican state Rep. R. Dewith Carrier said during the debate. Another Republican opponent, state Rep. Troy Romero, said he was concerned that having a firearm locked away would make it harder for an adult to quickly access it. 'If it's behind a locked drawer, how in the world are you going, at 2 or 3 in the morning, going to be able to protect your family if somebody intrudes or comes into your home?' Romero said.
Web Release
3 days ago
- Web Release
Mayo Clinic researchers identify a measurable genetic mutation as a significant predictor of metastasis and survival in pancreatic cancer
A new study by Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that the presence of a specific genetic mutation — KRAS circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) — strongly indicates a higher risk of cancer spread and worse survival rates for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The mutation was identified using a readily available and clinically approved blood and abdominal fluid test. PDAC is an aggressive form of cancer that is often difficult to diagnose. Most patients already have cancer spread to other parts of their body when initially diagnosed, and current tests often miss this hidden spread. This makes it challenging to determine the best treatment strategy. The findings, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, may help identify patients who are more likely to have cancer spread to other parts of the body, therefore providing doctors and patients with the right information to make informed decisions about treatment. 'This is a major advancement for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,' says Mark Truty, M.D., hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncologist within Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery. Dr. Truty is senior author of the study. 'We've had this genetic testing available for a number of years, however, we did not know the significance of the results or how to interpret them. Having the KRAS status will allow the patient and their provider to make better decisions about their individual cancer treatment.' The prospective cohort study, involving nearly 800 patients — the largest patient series to date in the literature using ctDNA — found that 20%-30% of patients with PDAC have detectable mutant KRAS ctDNA in the blood and/or peritoneum, and that those without any previous treatment, such as chemotherapy, had the highest incidence. Thus, the study suggests that ctDNA assays should be performed prior to treatment to have the highest yield. The researchers examined data between 2018 and 2022. Blood sample tests revealed that 104 patients (14%) had KRAS ctDNA mutation. These patients were more likely to develop advanced, spreading cancer and had a lower survival rate. Further testing of fluid from around the abdominal cavity in 419 patients showed similar results: 123 (29%) had the marker, and these patients also experienced worse outcomes. The presence of this marker, whether in blood or abdominal fluid, indicated a poorer prognosis. The study highlights that while surgery is the only known cure, most patients experience cancer spread after surgery. The test helps identify patients less likely to benefit from surgery alone, guiding treatment decisions towards chemotherapy and/or radiation before surgery. For patients without the KRAS mutation (approximately 10% of cases), the test is less conclusive and other tests are needed. 'Historically, we've known that KRAS mutations are associated with a more biologically aggressive pancreatic cancer,' says Jennifer Leiting, M.D., hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon within Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery. Dr. Leiting is first author of the study. 'But this large study gives us a much clearer understanding of how to interpret the test results and use them to improve patient care. It allows for more accurate staging at diagnosis, leading to better treatment decisions.' The researchers suggest that this test should become a standard part of the initial diagnosis for PDAC, enabling more personalized risk stratification and effective treatment plans. 'This improved diagnostic capability offers hope for patients and their families facing this challenging disease,' says Dr. Truty. 'It's optimistic to see how advances in genetic testing are directly helping our patients.'
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Gulf Today
Gazans accuse Israel of sending food mixed with deadly narcotic oxycodone to starving population
In a development intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestinian authorities have accused aid centers backed by the United States and Israel of distributing flour contaminated with oxycodone—a powerful and highly addictive opioid. According to the Gaza government's media office, the pills were reportedly found hidden inside flour bags distributed by what it described as 'American-Israeli' aid centers. Medical professionals in Gaza, including Dr. Khalil Mazen Abu Nada and Pharmacist Omar Hamad, confirmed the presence of oxycodone either concealed within aid packages or mixed into the flour itself. 'We have documented four separate testimonies from citizens who discovered these pills in the flour bags,' the media office said in a statement, warning that the narcotic may have been crushed or dissolved directly into the flour. Officials fear a potential deliberate attempt to induce addiction and undermine public health. Oxycodone is typically prescribed for severe or chronic pain, such as in cancer patients, and is known for its high potential for addiction. Side effects can include respiratory distress, hallucinations, and even death. A man shows Oxycodone tablets while sorting flour in Gaza. Labeling the incident a "heinous crime," Gaza officials accused Israeli authorities of turning humanitarian aid into a tool of harm. They alleged that the blockade is being used as a means to weaponize basic necessities, calling the aid centers 'death traps' designed to destabilize Palestinian society. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a US-Israeli joint aid initiative—has come under particular scrutiny. Human rights organizations have criticized its lack of transparency and oversight, demanding its operations be suspended immediately. A coalition of 15 legal and human rights groups warned that involvement in such aid distribution could amount to complicity in international crimes, including war crimes and genocide. The controversy comes amid other serious accusations against Israel. Israeli newspaper Haaretz recently reported that some Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers admitted to shooting unarmed Palestinians at food distribution points. Gaza's Health Ministry claims that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed near aid collection centers since late May. These developments follow the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Separately, Israel is also defending itself against a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). As conditions worsen and starvation spreads, the reports of drug-laced aid have sparked global outrage and intensified calls for independent oversight of humanitarian operations in Gaza.
