Refreshing swims can be a great way to unwind lower blood pressureCholesterol. These are vascular health benefits for those who are at high risk of stroke. Stroke is the leading cause for disability and fourth leading cause for death in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), 137,000 Americans died in strokes in 2010.
“Swimming is a vascular health bonanza,”David H. Stone MD is a member of Society for Vascular Surgery. “Low-impact swimming provides a total cardiovascular workout. Regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle, resulting in less effort and a decrease in blood pressure.”
According to 2010 statistics by the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans aged 20+ has high blood pressure. That’s a total of 74,000,000 Americans. One in six American adults has high cholesterol, which is more than 250mg/dL. American women have higher cholesterol than American men.
Exercise and healthy diet are key factors in lowering cholesterol. According to the American Council on Exercise 2000 calories should be burned per week by adults exercising.
According to a 2003 report published in Circulation, 250,000 people die each year from lack of physical activity.
The benefits to your health will not stop as long you continue exercising.
Livestrong.com reports that bad (LDL cholesterol) can be reduced by as much 20% after 12 to 14 weeks of a three to five-day-a-week exercise routine of 20 to 60 mins at an intensity of 60-60 percent heart rate. A bonus is that aerobic exercise can improve good (HDL), cholesterol.
A University of Western Australia study found that 100 women swimming from 50 to 70 years old lost more inches in their waists and hips than those who walked. Swimming is good for your joints and won’t cause you to overheat.
Non-invasive screening tests are available to detect vascular diseases. Vascular disease can be treated with medication. VascularWeb.org offers free electronic and printed vascular health information.
