New research suggests that couch potatoes should avoid engaging in sudden bouts of vigorous exercise. Dr Valerie Gladwell and Samantha Dawson of the University of Essex in England discovered that infrequent strenuous exercise could put people at serious risk of heart attack. The researchers compared the recovery times of volunteers after bouts of high-intensity, moderate-intensity, and light-intensity exercise. Results showed that heart rate remained significantly higher than normal for up to 30 minutes after engaging in high-intensity exercise. Furthermore, heart rate had still not returned to normal up to an hour later. However, with moderate-intensity exercise heart rate returned to normal within 15 minutes – just a fraction slower than it did with light-intensity exercise. Dr Gladwell said of the findings: “The study suggests that short bouts of unaccustomed high-intensity exercise increases the chances of heart problems. For example, shoveling snow is well known for causing heart attacks. It is unaccustomed exercise, it is hard work and it occurs in cold conditions – all factors contributing to an increased risk.”
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 31st December 2003.
