Being actively fit helps you perform every day activities safely, reduce the danger of falls and live independently. But evidence suggests it might probably also lower your risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Researchers examined 5,570 adults (average age 75) who were a part of the Ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.
Participants' physical function was rated as low, moderate, or high based on several tests, comparable to walking speed, speed of getting up from a chair without using hands, and standing balance. Over a follow-up period of a median of seven years, the researchers tracked who had a heart attack, stroke or heart failure, adjusting for risk aspects comparable to hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Compared to adults with high physical function scores, those with low scores were 47 percent more more likely to experience at the very least one in every of these cardiovascular events. Those with intermediate scores were 25 percent more likely.
Although the study only revealed an association, it adds further evidence to the importance of maintaining high physical function as you age. Results published on 6 September 2022. Journal of the American Heart Association.
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