A Look At How 30 Minutes Exercise Daily Can Prevent Heart Disease

A consultant cardiologist, Dr. Monisola Adanijo, has said a 30-minute exercise daily could prevent heart and other cardiovascular diseases.

 

 

 

News Rain Nigeria reports that the expert, in an interview with PUNCH correspondent, said people with heart disease and other underlining health conditions were at greater risk of dying from COVID-19.

She said, “The risk factors for heart disease could be grouped under two main headings; the ones people cannot do anything about which include age, gender, family history of heart disease, personal past medical history of heart disease and other genetic factors; and the ones people can do something about, which include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, stress, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

 

A Look At How 30 Minutes Exercise Daily Can Prevent Heart Disease

 

“Basically, heart disease can be prevented by identifying, avoiding, and proper management of the aforementioned risk factors. People with heart disease are especially vulnerable to death from COVID- 19. Coronavirus infection affects the heart muscle, as well as the covering of the heart. These can cause the heart to malfunction. The extra burden of COVID-19 infection on an already compromised heart would greatly increase the chances of dying from the infection.”

Aside from exercise, Adanijo urged people to urgently treat blood pressure and blood sugar using scientifically proven therapies.

“Recommended exercise include, walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, and dancing. People should avoid prolonged sitting or sedentary lifestyle; they should avoid cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption; they should lose excess weight; avoid stress; get adequate sleep or rest; reduce consumption of salt, fatty foods, and sugar,” the expert advised.