Physical activity necessary to maintain heart-healthy lifestyle | Gerald Fletcher

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Sept. 24, 2018 (MedicalXpress) -- Exercise and physical activity are of vast global importance to prevent and control the increasing problem of heart disease and stroke, according to a review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Physical inactivity is considered one of the leading modifiable risk factors for heart disease, along with smoking status and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

A 2012 study found physical inactivity accounted for 9 percent of premature deaths worldwide and was shown to be the reason behind 6 percent of coronary heart disease, 7 percent of Type 2 diabetes and 10 percent of both breast and colon cancer diagnoses.

(more)

READ MORE: MedicalXpress