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!)