There has been a groundbreaking development recently that claims riding bikes can fix heart problems. Studies have shown that cycling can help reverse age-related heart ailments, but there is a precondition — you’ve to start early before it’s too late.
Sure, failed love affairs and relationships can put a dent in your heart, but it’s the time that can take a real toll on the muscle that keeps you ticking. Inactive adults and middle-aged individuals who lead sedentary lifestyles can suffer from stiffening heart muscles and other heart-related problems.
Take care of the lefty
It is the heart’s left ventricle of the heart that that is most vulnerable. The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood all over the body. This can increase your risk of heart failure. On the other hand, professional, older athletes of the similar age have bigger, compliant left ventricles, which is similar to their younger counterparts.
As we said earlier, age-related heart damage can be reversed or delayed if people develop the habit of doing regular aerobic exercises such as cycling—a part of their daily lives.
Minimising heart complications through boosting VO2 max levels
In a recent research published in Circulation, cardiologists from the UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources conducted an experiment on 53 sedentary adults, aged between 45 and 64. The volunteers were asked either to perform a cardiovascular exercise or act a control group, doing yoga and balance training for two years.
After a three-month buildup schedule, the group that did cardio exercises worked out for four to five days a week for 30 minutes. The group also included one longer session and one extreme-level interval workout program.
After two years, findings revealed that the cardio group has boosted their VO2 max levels by 18 percent and the elasticity of their left ventricle muscle was also improved by over 25 percent. VO2 max is the highest amount of oxygen the body can use. By comparison, their control group peers saw no improvements.
It’s worth mentioning that the previous research carried out by the same team said that age and exercise frequency is important for those seeking to minimize heart-related complications.
Going with that hypothesis, you need to workout at least 4-5 days per week, and any less that won’t have any implications. Also, you need to exercise before you’re 65 years old, after which the heart will ultimately lose most of its elasticity.
If you’re asking what is the best form of exercise – it is cycling. In fact, researchers placed cycling high on the list. After all, cycling, apart from being highly effective, it is also accessible and fun for everyone.
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