Exercise the Medicine of Choice
Reducing Cardiovascular Risk
Dr. Lynn Panton
Florida State University
College of Human Sciences
Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise
Sciences
Surgeon General States….
“Inactivity is detrimental to
your health!”
Physical Activity and Health. A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. 1996.
Physical activity can…
↓ cardiovascular disease risk factors
 ↓ cholesterol and ↑ good cholesterol (HDL)
 ↓ blood pressure
 ↓ blood sugar and type II diabetes
 ↓ weight and abdominal obesity
 ↓ risk of some cancers
↓ breast cancer
↓ colon cancer
 may ↓ risk of endometrial and lung cancer
 improve mental health and mood
 ↑ ability to perform activities of daily living
 ↑ balance to prevent falls
 ↓ risk of dementia
 ultimately ↑ chances of living longer disease free and
improve the quality of life
Relationship Between Cholesterol Levels
and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality
Classification of Low (LDL) and High
Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
Classification
<100 mg/dL
Optimal
100-129 mg/dL
Near Optimal
130-159 mg/dL
Borderline high
160-189 mg/dL
High
> 190 mg/dL
Very High
HDL Cholesterol
Classification
<40 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L)
Low HDL cholesterol
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise has been shown to increase good
cholesterol (HDL).
Exercise can decrease triglycerides.
Exercise with diet modification can decrease
the bad cholesterol (LDL).
Exercise can also help decrease medication
that is being taken for high cholesterol.
Blood Pressure
Optimal
Prehypertension
Systolic
<120
120-139
Hypertension:
Stage 1
Stage 2
140-159
> 160 or
and
and
or
Diastolic
<80
80-89
90-99
> 100
High Blood Pressure
50 million adults in the U.S. have high blood
pressure.
60% of people over the age of 60 years have
high blood pressure.
Only 68% are aware of their condition.
Only 54% are being treated.
Only 27% have it under control.
High Blood Pressure
 Even individuals in high normal range have 50%
greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
 High blood pressure may place women at greater
risk for heart disease than men.
 Recent studies show that systolic blood pressure
has a greater influence on risk.
 Decreasing systolic blood pressure, even to only
150 mmHg, can reduce risk for heart failure,
stroke, heart attack, renal disease, and mortality.
Benefits of Exercise
 Exercise decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
 Exercise decreases the release of stress hormones.
 Exercise increases substances that increase vasodilatation
(Nitric Oxide).
 Exercise helps in weight loss which will also bring down
blood pressure.
 10 lbs of weight loss can significantly reduce blood pressure.
 Exercise can reduce the amount of medication taken for
blood pressure control.