In a recent study published in Circulation January 2010, Australia researchers reported that people who watched more than 4 hours of television daily had a 46% higher all cause mortality rate and an 80% higher risk of cardiovascular death during the study period.

The study followed 3,846 men and 4,954 women for 6 years. The average age of study participants was 50 years of age. Every hour of sitting in front of the TV raised a person’s risk of cardiovascular death by 18% and cancer death by 9%. Although they studied people sitting in front of a television, it is suggested that this risk can be associated with any long periods of sitting.

The heavy TV watchers had the most negative health effects regardless of other cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and lack of exercise.
Time spent watching TV can be spent on physical activity and healthy lifestyles to improve health and prevent disease.

So, the skinny TV’s may be making us fat!!!! Time to get up and get moving!!!

For exercise tips and healthy lifestyle information visit us at www.heart-strong.com.

YES IT DOES!!!! A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that those who quit smoking after a heart attack lived longer than those who didn’t quit. They also discovered that just cutting down the number of cigarettes smoked improves survival time.

The study followed 1,500 heart attack survivors for 13 years. First time heart attack survivors who quit smoking were 37% less likely to die during the study period. This reduction in risk was similar to those heart attack survivors who never smoked-a 43% lower risk of death during the study compared to those who continued to smoke.

During the study period, 427 people died. The highest risk was to those who continued smoking, even when other risk factors such as obesity, exercise and overall health were taken into consideration. The good news is that risk is reduced 11% for every 5 cigarettes that are eliminated.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It is NEVER too late to quit smoking!!! Even if you have already had a heart attack, you can live longer if you cut back or kick the cigarettes totally!!!