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Even simple strolling protects heart, and legs, too
Medpage Today
A lifetime of even light exercise protects the heart but also the legs, according to a study showing reduced risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
A sedentary lifestyle predicted 46% higher risk of peripheral arterial disease compared with a lifetime of recreational activity of any intensity, John P. Cooke, MD, PhD, of Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, Calif., and colleagues found.
The biggest incremental gain in PAD protection was going from essentially no activity to minimal activity, though more activity was more protective, the group reported online in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.
“Even light activity, such as strolling, is enough to protect against peripheral arterial disease,” Cooke said. “Get up off the couch, go for a walk, and you will be less likely to have problems in the future.”
The current recommendations for about 30 minutes of exercise on a regular basis to protect against cardiovascular disease would certainly help prevent peripheral arterial disease as well, he said.
