Cardiovascular Disease- How to Reverse Heart Disease

Alcohol and exercise:

Alcohol has no effect on heart rate but chronic use of alcohol increases blood pressure during rest and exercise. Alcohol has no effect on exercise capacity.

Hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering agents) and exercise:

These medications include insulin and oral agents which have no effect on heart rate and blood pressure during rest and exercise. They also have no effect on exercise capacity.

Evidence-based benefits of aerobic exercise:

Aerobic exercise, weight loss and cholesterol control: A study done by Barnard, et al. compared 51 to 64 year old subjects from an exercise group that did a consistent exercise program for at least 10 years, a diet plus exercise group who did a consistent diet and exercise program for at least 10 years, and a sedentary group with poor diet. Based on this used as a comparison, if someone began to exercise 5 days per week for one hour in their 50s for 10 years without a change in diet, they should expect to decrease their body mass index about 11.5 kg/m^2, reduce total cholesterol by about 11 points, and reduce their triglycerides by about 105 mg/dl. There was no large benefit in LDL and HDL cholesterol seen in the group which consumed a poor diet. If someone began to exercise 4-6 days per week for one hour in their 50s for 10 years with eating a low fat, high fiber and complex carbohydrates diet along with exercise they would attain the following average benefit. A decrease in their body mass index about 16.5 kg/m^2, reduce total cholesterol by about 33 points, reduce LDL cholesterol by about 20 points, and reduce their triglycerides by about 109 mg/dl. There was no large benefit in HDL cholesterol was seen in this study.(84)