Dr. Betty Kamen, Ph.D.

Table Talk Health Hints

Nutrition Hints

from Betty Kamen, PhD, and Dr. Michael Rosenbaum, MD
Copyright © 2000-2007 by Nutrition Encounter, all rights reserved
May be redistributed only with full attribution
and a link to www.bettykamen.com
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Hint 2436: Even if there are no apparent signs of heart disease, your cardiovascular fitness may predict the odds of a future heart attack. Those who show the greatest endurance on exercise tests have the lowest risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke over the next ten years.

Most people are familiar with the advice to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day. Benefits include not only a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, but also a lower likelihood of premature death from a range of causes.

Even when factors such as age, smoking and weight are considered, higher fitness levels seem to protect against heart problems. So there is great value for more routine exercise testing even when no symptoms of heart disease are present.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, June 15, 2007.