Heart Beat: July 2012

Increasing your physical activity during leisure time may help significantly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to an Italian study presented in May at the European Meeting of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection. Study subjects who spent most of their leisure time in sedentary activities, such as reading or watching TV, were three times more likely to develop CVD as those who spent more of their time (about 60 minutes a day, five days a week) in moderate to intense physical activity, such as running, swimming, heavy gardening. Researchers say the study underscores the importance of increasing the amount of physical activity you engage in during the week, and reducing the amount of time you spend in sedentary activities.