The March 22-29th issue of JAMA is dedicated to Women's health. This is the first of several articles that sum up the findings reported in this week's publication. This study found that women benefit more than men from aspirin therapy and rarely suffer a heart attack following exercise - especially if they exercise on a regular basis.
Women: Get Up and Move, Take an Aspirin - Don't See Me in the Morning.
The March 22 - 29th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is dedicated to women's health. The issue features findings from several new studies. Most are not surprising - yet it is refreshing to see data dedicated to women.
Studies showed that women:
Benefit more than men with low-dose aspirin therapy and that sudden cardiac death during extreme exertion is rare - especially in women that exercise on a regular basis.
The later part of that message is important. "Get up and move - it will help your long-term health prospects and will make you stronger," Alison Schecter, co-director of the Women's CARE (Cardiac Assessment and Risk Evaluation) center at Mount Sinai Medical Center, said.
The bottom line is that we all need to engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to extreme exercise each day. That doesn't mean that we need to go to the gym everyday - it means that we need to engage in some type of activity that keeps our heart beat up for thirty minuets - at least once a day.
That may mean taking the dog for a 45 minute walk in which at least 30 minutes is at a brisk pace, work in the yard, or dance while cleaning house for 45 minutes or so.
As with all suggestions for exercise, if you have been a couch potato for the past decade or two in your life, it's best to begin slowly and work up to an effective heart rate. You should also consult your doctor prior to beginning any new exercise regimen. The main message here is to GET MOVING.
Even though the findings were positive on low-dose aspirin therapy for women, you should also consult your doctor before taking a baby aspirin every day.
This article is intended for general information only and is not intended to replace information from your dietitian, doctor, or other health professional.
