Exercise Really Does Reduce the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

In a newly published article in Circulation, investigators conducted the first meta-analysis to specifically examine the dose-response relationship between physical activity and risk reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD).

The researchers found that those who exercised the equivalent of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (the basic minimum as recommended in the US federal guidelines), had a 14% lower CHD risk.

The researchers also found at that those who achieved 300 minutes per week, had a 20% lower risk of CHD.

This dose-response relationship continued and of those who participated in upwards of 750 minutes of exercise per week achieved a 25% reduction in CHD.

I find these results extremely encouraging.

 Significant reductions in CHD can be achieved with modest exercise. I also find it encouraging to note that more is better.

Sattelmair J, Pertman J, Ding EL, et al.  Dose response between physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease. A meta-analysis. Circulation 2011; DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.010710. Available at: http://circ.ahajournals.org.