An Exercise Pop-Quiz! (Heart Health)
You’ve heard time and again that it’s important to exercise, but will it really reduce your chances of developing heart disease? How much activity should you get every day? See how fitness savvy you are with this quick quiz. Decide if each statement is true or false.
Regular physical activity can reduce your chances of getting heart disease.
True. Heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people than in those who exercise regularly. Being physically inactive is a risk factor for heart disease along with cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and being overweight. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance for developing heart disease. Regular physical activity (even mild to moderate exercise) can reduce this risk.
Most people get enough physical activity from their normal daily routine.
False. Most Americans are busy but not active. Every American adult should make a habit of getting 30 minutes of low to moderate levels of physical activity daily. This includes walking, gardening, and climbing stairs. If you are inactive now, begin by doing a few minutes of activity each day. If you only do some activity every once in a while, try to work some activity into your routine every day.
Exercise programs do not require a lot of time to be very effective.
True. It takes only a few minutes a day to become more physically active. If you don’t have 30 minutes in your schedule for an exercise break, try to find two 15-minute periods or even three 10-minute periods. These exercise breaks will soon become a habit you won’t be able to skip.
If you answered all these questions correctly, then you are on the right path to a healthy lifestyle. If you didn’t, talk to your doctor about what you can do to get moving. Remember, everyone — no matter the fitness or experience level — can benefit from physical activity.
B-man 