Intense physical activity in adolescents ensures healthier heart
New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): According to the latest research, adolescents with better aerobic fitness have more compliant arteries than their lower fit peers do. The study also suggests that a higher anaerobic threshold is linked to better arterial health. Arterial stiffness is one of the first signs of cardiovascular disease, and adults with increased arterial stiffness are at higher risk of developing the clinical cardiovascular disease. However, arterial stiffening may have its origin already in childhood and adolescence. Anaerobic threshold describes the exercise intensity that can be sustained for long periods of time without excess accumulation of lactic acid. The results of the study showed that both peak oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold were related to arterial stiffness in adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Genetics may explain part of the observed associations but moderate and especially vigorous physical activity improves fitness and arterial health already in adolescence. “Sufficiently intense physical activity starting in childhood may be the first line in the prevention of early arterial ageing,” explained one researcher. The full findings are present in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
