Heart health for men:
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men over the age of 45? Heart disease is the umbrella term that includes diseases which affect the heart and blood vessels. Heart disease kills around 40% more men than women and men are twice as likely as women to have a heart attack.
Heart disease is strongly linked to risk factors including:
- High cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Stress and depression
- Physical inactivity
Physical activity can actually help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and is beneficial if you have heart disease or are recovering from a cardiac episode. Remember; the heart is also a muscle, and just like exercising any other muscle in the body it will become stronger. What this means for the heart is that it will be more efficient, meaning that the heart doesn’t need to work as hard, helping to lower heart rate and blood pressure. The other benefits of exercise to help manage heart health include:
- Increase energy levels
- Weight management
- Reduce the risk of developing diabetes/control blood glucose levels
- Improve mental health
Source:
Exercise Right. n.d, The benefits of exercise to prevent heart disease in Aussie men https://exerciseright.com.au/the-benefits-of-exercise-to-prevent-heart-disease-in-aussie-men/
Healthy Male, n.d. Men’s Health: cardiovascular disease https://www.healthymale.org.au/mens-health/cardiovascular-diseaseHeart Foundation, n.d, Benefits of physical activity https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-health-education/benefits-of-physical-activity