Regular physical activity had nearly doubled cardiovascular(心血管的) benefits in individuals with depression or anxiety, compared with individuals without these diagnoses, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.
The research findings add to mounting evidence that exercise improves cardiovascular health by helping to activate parts of the brain that counteract stress. Overall, the study found that people who achieved the recommended amount of physical activity per week were17% less likely to suffer a major harmful cardiovascular event than those who exercised less. These benefits were significantly greater in those with anxiety or depression, who had a 22%risk reduction vs. a 10% risk reduction in those without either condition.
"The effect of physical activity on the brain's stress response may be particularly relevant to those with stress-related mental conditions," said Hadil Zureigat, MD, postdoctoral clinical research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and the study's lead author. "This is not to suggest that exercise is only effective in those with depression or anxiety, but we found that these patients seem to get a greater cardiovascular benefit from physical activity."
Rates of both depression and anxiety have risen during the outbreak of flu, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. The study findings underline the important role of exercise in maintaining heart health and reducing stress, according to the researchers.
"Any amount of exercise is helpful, particularly for those with depression or anxiety," Zureigat said. "Not only will physical activity help them feel better, but they will also significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. It can be hard to make the transition, but once achieved, physical activity allows those with these common chronic(慢性的) stress-related mental conditions to hit two birds with one stone."
