New Old Heart Health Advice

A new slant on the conventional advice for preventing heart attacks was championed by John Quindry, Ph.D., FACSM, at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.

He reviewed the usual list of unmodifiable risk factors - age and family history - and the modifiable risk factors - blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, cholesterol, diet and sedentary lifestyle. But he claimed that literally taking steps to eliminate a sedentary lifestyle, by following the new federal recommendation for 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week, would kick-start the remediation of the other modifiable risk factors.

Walking at a moderate pace, he pointed out, is just as effective as cranking up an elliptical machine. Your body doesn’t know the difference.