Dr. Mathew Stockstad, Asheville Chiropractor 16 Winterwind Drive 28803

How much exercise is Enough in Asheville NC?

• Do you believe that your leisurely walk is the best weapon against sudden heart failure?
• How about riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill for 45 minutes?
• Or better yet. How about doing one of those group exercise classes?

We all know that exercise is important for our health and well-being.

But could your exercise be dangerous to your health?  This is the subject matter of a comprehensive study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which found that the recovery of your heart rate immediately after exercise may be a good indicator of your risk factor for sudden death.

A delayed fall in the heart rate one minute after exercise may be one of the most important markers of heart health.

The Study:  For six years 5713 adults between the ages of 42 and 53 years without a history of heart disease were put through exercise testing.

The participants were tested to see how quickly their heart rates recovered.

The recovery of heart rate was defined as the decrease in the heart rate from peak exercise to one minute after the cessation of exercise.

An abnormal value for the recovery of heart rate was defined as a reduction of 12 beats per minute or less from the heart rate at peak exercise.

The results from the study concluded that a delayed decrease in the heart rate during the first minute after maximal exercise was strongly predictive of sudden death.

Another study discovered that the rate at which your heart increases from a resting level to the peak exercise level was also linked to a risk of sudden death.

Conclusion:  The risk of sudden death was increased in:

• Subjects with a resting heart rate that was more than 75 beats per minute.
• Subjects with an increase in heart rate during exercise that was less than 89 beats per minute.
• Subjects with a decrease in heart rate of less than 12 beats per minute after the termination of exercise.

This is not to discourage individuals from exercising but rather points to indicators of those who are most likely need to be getting in better shape but with some professional guidance.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stockstad call our office at (828) 299-4555 or visit our website.