Gentle exercise can cut the danger of early heart disease, Britain’s biggest killer, according to reports of a scientific study.

As little as half an hour of aerobic exercise such as walking, rowing or jogging three times a week can make patients 60 per cent less likely to die, the research found.

The results of the study, carried out by the Department of Cardiology in New Orleans, Louisiana and reported in the American Journal of Medicine, have be welcomed by the British Heart Foundation.

More than 200,000 die each year from conditions related to circulation, including strokes and heart attacks.

One in five men and one in seven women die from heart disease in the UK.

The American study offered patients 12 weeks of exercise classes of 30 or 40 minutes of walking, rowing or jogging and were given advice on diet and lifestyle improvements.

A follow-up with the patients over six years found those who got fitter through the exercise regime were 60 per cent less likely to have died.

Exercise also helped to reduce levels of stress, according to a report of the study in the Daily Express.

The British Heart Foundation told the newspaper: “This study proves once again that exercise has both psychological and physical benefits for patients with heart disease.”
Many British patients with heart problems are put on drugs to lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.

Cigarette vending machines could soon be removed from pubs and clubs across the country after MPs agreed to ban them.

An amendment to the health bill, proposed by Labour’s Ian McCartney, was passed by the Commons last night (October 12th) and could soon become law if approved in the House of Lords.

The move is designed to make it harder for children to get hold of cigarettes and was welcomed by anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

Chief executive Deborah Arnott commented: ‘Stopping tobacco sales from vending machines has made a strong bill even stronger.

‘We wouldn’t tolerate other age-restricted products such as alcohol or knives being sold in this way.’

The British Heart Foundation’s chief executive, Peter Hollins, also welcomed the news, describing it as a ‘victory’ for the charity’s campaigners.

‘We look forward to all parties backing a new tobacco control strategy to help keep the government’s foot on the pedal on this crucial agenda,’ he added.

Only one in eight British youngsters get the recommended amount of daily exercise, according to new research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

A poll conducted for the charity’s ‘Food4Thought’ campaign found that the vast majority of children do not exercise for 60 minutes per day, as recommended by health experts.

Nearly four-fifths said that they did not know how much physical activity they should be doing, while 30 per cent admitted that they simply ‘can’t be bothered’ to do any exercise.

One in five also claimed that exercise was unnecessary unless a person was overweight.

Dr Mike Knapton, the charity’s director of prevention and care, commented: ‘We have a generation of kids growing up who have a shockingly blase attitude towards exercise and being active.

‘Young people need to switch off their square eyes and get in the habit of exercising now.’

The government’s ‘Change4Life’ initiative recently launched a new exercise campaign to encourage families to be more active.

A poll conducted for the campaign found that 45 per cent of young people watch TV or play video games before school instead of doing something active.

source: netdoctor.co.uk