USE IT OR LOSE IT: A STUDY OF EXERCISE AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Abstract

Heart disease is the number one cause of death of men and women in the United States. In fact, heart disease kills more people than all types of cancer combined, equaling almost 787,000 people in 2011 (25). In addition, it was estimated in 2012 that 52 billion dollars was spent in direct and indirect costs of heart failure and by the year 2030, the total cost of heart failure will triple (26). There are many modifiable risk factors that have been shown to reduce an individual’s chance of having heart failure, and one of these factors is exercise. Exercise will not completely prevent the decrease in cardiovascular function as an individual ages, but will help maintain cardiac output, VO2 max, and blood pressure. Any amount of exercise is beneficial, even for patients with pre-existing heart disease. Therefore, those who have risk factors for heart disease should consult their doctor and begin an exercise program to reduce their risk of a coronary event.