DALLAS, – The American Heart Association today published a scientific statement on “Exercise Standards Testing and Training” in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
The report revises standards for the exercise testing and training of healthy individuals as well as those with cardiovascular disease. It is aimed at physicians and other health care professionals who administer exercise testing, and who provide individual exercise prescriptions for patients, especially those with cardiovascular disease.
The report emphasizes that significant health benefits can be obtained by doing moderate intensity physical activity such as 30 minutes per day of brisk walking, or 45 minutes per day of recreational games such as tennis – on most, if not all, days of the week.
Exercise has both risks and benefits, and the challenge is to provide guidelines that minimize risks and maximize benefits, says Gerald Fletcher, M.D., professor of medicine at Mayo Medical Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. and lead author of the statement.
“Nonetheless, it is generally believed that the benefits of exercise greatly exceed the risks; thus, individuals should be encouraged to exercise prudently,” he says.
This statement is a revision of a 1995 statement and is in accordance with the association’s 1996 “Statement on Exercise.” It addresses who should have exercise testing to reveal heart abnormalities, how it should be performed and how results should be analyzed.
The statement also discusses risk classifications for exercise training in healthy individuals as well as people with various stages of heart disease.
In addition, the statement documents the beneficial effects of exercise such as increasing “good” cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, improving glucose metabolism, enhancing insulin sensitivity and weight loss.
214-706-1279 or Bridgette McNeill: 214-706-1135