Risks
of Physical Inactivity
Lack
of physical activity has clearly been shown to
be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Less active, less fit
persons have a 30 to 50 percent greater risk
of developing high blood pressure.
- Although no direct
link exists between regular exercise and stroke,
it is known that exercise reduces the risk of
other health problems, such as heart disease,
which can contribute to stroke.
Thousands
and thousands of deaths result each year due to
a lack of regular physical activity. According
to the Surgeon General's report, more than
60 percent of adults do not get the recommended
amount of exercise. The report also stated that:
- One-third of adults
are not physically active at all.
- Inactivity increases
with age.
- Women are more likely
to lead sedentary lifestyles than men.
- Physical activity declines
rapidly with age during adolescence, especially
among females.
The
Healthy People 2010 report, produced by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
President's Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports, found that physically inactive people
are twice as likely to develop coronary heart
disease (CHD) as people who do regular physical
exercises. Physical inactivity, which is almost
as high of a risk factor as cigarette smoking,
high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol,
is far more prevalent than any other risk factor.
Click
here to view the Online
Resources of Cardiovascular Disease
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