Young women have the opportunity to “store” exercise for improved heart health in the future, according to a study.
Researchers hailing from The Young women University of Queensland in Australia conducted an analysis of longitudinal data encompassing 479 women. These women reported their levels of physical activity at three-year intervals, commencing from their early 20s and extending into their mid-40s.
Young women
The study, which found its way into the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, unveiled that women in their 40s who had been notably active during their early adulthood maintained an average resting heart rate of approximately 72 beats per minute (bpm). In contrast, those women who had been the least active from their 20s to their 40s exhibited an average resting heart rate of about 78 bpm.
Mielke noted that although the distinction might appear minor, prior research has suggested that even a mere 1 bpm increase in resting heart rate could be linked to higher mortality rates.
“A lower resting heart rate typically signifies that your heart is operating more efficiently and as it should,” he explained.
“These findings imply that regular physical activity, regardless of when it is initiated, appears to yield cardiovascular health benefits for women prior to reaching menopause. This underscores the importance of public health campaigns promoting an active lifestyle for Young women in their 20s and 30s, with the positive health impact remaining apparent later in life.”
The researchers emphasized the significance of comprehending the potential implications of accumulating physical activity.
“This is especially vital for women, given that pregnancy and childbirth significantly affect levels of physical activity,” Mielke emphasized.
“Only a few other studies have utilized life course epidemiology models to examine the extent to which accumulating physical activity over the course of life contributes to disease prevention.”
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