Joe says:

Your husband is in luck! There are a number of studies that show people who attain cardiovascular fitness through exercise reduce their heart attack risk by up to 50% - more than the best cholesterol-lowering drugs can accomplish. Conversely, physical inactivity is linked directly to an increase in cardiac risk. According to Dr. William Haskell of Stanford University Medical School, "Couch potatoes run nearly twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people who are physically active. They are at the same risk for heart attacks as the obese and heavy smokers."

A landmark study of almost 17,000 Harvard alumni found that the active men in the group had 35% fewer heart attacks and lived about 2.5 years longer than their sedentary counterparts. Moreover, fit persons who suffered heart attacks were more likely to survive. And further good news is that you don't have to run marathons to see results. Dr. Steven Blair of the Cooper Clinic showed that even a minimal improvement in fitness, which may be achieved with a 30 minute walk daily, could reduce cardiac mortality substantially.

In my opinion, your husband should treat his stent as a "teachable moment" to make the decision to exercise regularly. Developing exercise as a habit is a key to his healthy future.
1 | Sep. 28, 2008 at 11:58am