Running lowers the risk of heart attacks. When the blood flow is reduced or critically blocked, leading to angina(chest pain), it results in heart attack. The heart tissue get affected and die, if not treated promptly. With angina, blood flow is restored, the pain is reduced but the heart is temporarily damaged.
However, the first and the second attack occurs with pain but a third attack occurs mostly without warning signs. The patients suffer from sporadic interruptions of blood flow to the heart, which are due to unknown reasons and are pain-free. Although the patients look fit and strong, their cardiac tissues get damaged gradually.
The patients who have heart problems or whose heart tissues are already damaged have high mortality risk if they do vigorous exercise than walking and resting. During exercise, they may experience irregular heart beat, increase blood pressure to a dangerous level or improper blood flow due to clogged arteries. The arteries supply oxygen and nutrients to heart muscles through blood.
The heart is a muscle, and regular exercise conditions and makes it stronger. For the same amount of blood, a sedentary person’s heart may pump in 75 beats per minute and the individual who has stronger heart pumps in 50 beats per minute. In addition, a stronger heart can pump blood better which slows the heart beat and heart rate during rest.
The main causes of heart attacks are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity and stress. Regular exercises helps to cleanse the arteries by increasing blood levels of HDL cholesterol and preventing build-up of bad cholesterol.
Family history and age are the two main risk factors that exercise may not change and are treated as warning. If you are in these categories its important for you to undergo a physical checkup before starting any of the vigorous physical activities.
