The influence of exercise to cardiovascular risk factors The in healthy adults

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diseases related with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia and cerebrovascular disease are increasing according to the change of dietary patterns with economy growth and other causes such as low physical activity. Many studies showed the effects and benefits of exercise in people who had diseases related to cardiovascular risk factors, but there are few studies on the effects of exercise in healthy people. Therefore this study investigated the influence of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults. METHODS: 2,413 people who participated in periodic health examinations at Taegu medical center from May to July, in 1998 were assessed with respect to height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol and subjects responded to the self-administered questionnaires. We reviewed 881 subjects. Subjects were classified as exereise group if they reported exercising for at least 30 minutes, 5 or more days of the week, and as control group if they reported exercising once a week or less. We observed the difference in Body Mass Index(BMI), fasting blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol and the prevalence of overweight, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia between study groups. RESULTS: There were no differences in sex, age, education, economic status, occupation between the study groups. Serum total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and BMI were significantly lower for the exercise group. The prevalence of overweight, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were significantly lower for the exercise group. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus were lower for the exercise group, but were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy peoples, they who were regularly exercise were significantly lowered in cardiovascular risk factors and diseases related with cardiovascular risk factors than nonexercising peopl