The Activity That's Bad For Your Heart

[Julieanne]

Bryan Hubbard
November 11 2019

When it comes to maintaining a healthy heart, all exercise isn't equal. Lifting heavy loads at work seems to be bad for our arteries and heart, while intense sporting activity has a positive effect, at least according to new research.


It all seems to do with the way different types of activity affect our heart rhythm. An abnormal rhythm suggests a problem with the walls of our arteries and this, in turn, can lead to cardiovascular disease.


Read more: https://www.wddty.com/news/2019/11/t...our-heart.html

[Islander]

Oh, great. I don't do sports, and given this chronic hip pain, I can't even do brisk walks any more. Thus my "exercise" (aside from occasional stair climbing) consists of heavy lifting: 50-lb. bags of livestock feed weekly in summer, firewood carried inside the house daily in winter. Oh, and shoveling snow, which began today! My heart may not approve, but my lifestyle leaves me no choice.

[Mr. Wizard]

The heart is a muscle. As with any muscle, it should be gradually "warmed up" before engaging in heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. Runners stretch and bounce to warm up their muscles before going jogging; the same for weight lifters. Far too many of us call our hearts (cardiovascular system) into service before priming the pump. Gotta prime that pump!!

[Islander]

Duly noted (because I've never done that!)

[scilover]

For me, lifting heavy loads sometimes will end up pulling my back. It hurts so much. And i'm still quite young, it worries me sometimes when I get back/neck pain easily....

[Islander]

Scilover, do you know how to use your legs to bear the weight of what you're lifting, instead of putting the load entirely on your back?

[scilover]

I'm not sure about that....because not only from lifting heavy loads, sometimes by just walking and standing too long, I start to feel this intense pain at my back or neck. Maybe it has to do with my bad posture?

[Islander]

But there's also a right and wrong way to lift heavy objects so as not to put all the strain on your back. Also, as we age, back pain seems to be the most common complaint. Try googling the right way to lift!

[Julieanne]

scilover, do you do any exercises for your back pain? A physiotherapist showed me an exercise called 'sit to stand' which helps a lot. You can find it on Google.

[scilover]

Oh wow thanks! I had no idea there were exercises like this that could help me with this pain. I'm still in my 20s and have been suffering this issue since i was a teenager....hopefully it'll be better next time.

[Julieanne]

There are lots more exercises you can do, but have you ever seen a doctor about this? You are fairly young to have back pain and there may be a reason. Don't just accept pain relief, you need to know the cause and what you can do for yourself. You may need a X-ray and/or a referral to a PT.

One thing I recommend is setting a timer to remind you to get up and walk around if you are sitting for some time, which I guess you are if you are drawing or painting. One very small step to start!

[scilover]

I had never seen a doctor about this before. I always thought it was just a simple back pain every once in a while. I thought it was normal....but now that I think about it, I will get it check. I don't want to suffer this pain still when i grow older....