Pumping iron pumps the heart.If you thought running or other aerobic exercise aerobic exercise, n sustained repetitive physical activity, such as walking, dancing, cycling, and swimming, that elevates the heart rate and increases oxygen consumption resulting in improved functioning of cardio-vascular and respiratory systems. was the only way to a healthy heart, here's news from the American Heart Association's (AHA) two medical journals. There is more you can do to promote heart health and overall wellbeing-progressive resistance training. In a major meta-analysis of randomized ran·dom·ize tr.v. ran·dom·ized, ran·dom·iz·ing, ran·dom·iz·es To make random in arrangement, especially in order to control the variables in an experiment. , controlled trials, researchers concluded that resistance exercise is effective in reducing both systolic Systolic The phase of blood circulation in which the heart's pumping chambers (ventricles) are actively pumping blood. The ventricles are squeezing (contracting) forcefully, and the pressure against the walls of the arteries is at its highest. and diastolic blood pressure Diastolic blood pressure Blood pressure when the heart is resting between beats. Mentioned in: Hypertension . And, an AHA clinical advisory declared that weight training is an effective method for reducing coronary risk, improving muscular strength and endurance, preventing and managing several medical problems like diabetes and osteoporosis, and enhancing psychosocial psychosocial /psy·cho·so·cial/ (si?ko-so´shul) pertaining to or involving both psychic and social aspects. psy·cho·so·cial adj. Involving aspects of both social and psychological behavior. well-being. Running & FitNews readers have already been informed of these benefits (January 2000), but here is an important reminder. If you haven't added weight training to your workouts, don't wait. Your running is likely to improve as well as your resistance to injury and disease. All you need is a set of dumbbells and a little guidance. For more help, check out The American Running Association's web site at www.emericanrunning.org and click on strength training for runners. (Circulation, 2000, Vol. 101, pp. 828; Hypertension, 2000, Vol. 35, pp. 838) |
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