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Exercising and middle age

Studies found significant heart benefits for people over 40.

According to a study in the current publication of Heart, you can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease even if you start exercising after the age of 40.

Exercising and middle age

German researchers interviewed 312 people ranging from the ages of 40 to 68 suffering from coronary artery disease and 479 healthy people from the same age group. Participants were asked about their level of physical activity at the beginning of their adult life (from 20 to 39) and during later adult years (40 and over).

According to the team at Heidelberg University, around 50 percent of the volunteers with coronary artery disease and 70 percent of healthy volunteers claimed they were moderately or very active during early adult life and later adult life.

People who have been physically active all their life were around 60 percent less likely to suffer from coronary artery disease. In addition, people who began exercising over the age of 40 were around 55 percent less likely to suffer from coronary artery disease than those who have never been active in their entire life.

The authors of the study concluded that although people who have been  exercising  all their life will be healthier, these finding show that even if you start exercising later on in life, you will still see benefits and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.

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