Weightlifting Reduces The Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

If you spend up to one hour a week lifting weights, you’ll boost your heart condition. According to a new Iowa State University study, weightlifting reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 40 percent and 70 percent, respectively. Also, spending more than one hour every week in the gym room, lifting weights, is not more beneficial than spending less than an hour a week doing this workout.

“People may think they need to spend a lot of time lifting weights, but just two sets of bench presses that take less than 5 minutes could be effective,” said Duck-Chul Lee from the Iowa State University. “The results are encouraging, but will people make weightlifting part of their lifestyle? Will they do it and stick with it? That’s the million-dollar question,” Lee added.

The researchers analyzed medical data of about 13,000 adults who participated in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. The outcomes of the new study revealed that strength training’s benefits for cardiovascular conditions are different and surpass the beneficial effects of cardio exercises, for example.

Weightlifting Reduces The Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

“Lifting any weight that increases resistance on your muscles is the key. My muscle doesn’t know the difference if I’m digging in the yard, carrying heavy shopping bags or lifting a dumbbell,” Duck-Chul Lee.

Besides the fact that weightlifting reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, there are also other benefits of strength training. According to Lee, weightlifting also improves bone health, physical function, and the quality of life in older adults.

“Muscle is the power plant to burn calories. Building muscle helps move your joints and bones, but also there are metabolic benefits. I don’t think this is well appreciated. If you build muscle, even if you’re not aerobically active, you burn more energy because you have more muscle. That also helps prevent obesity and provide long-term benefits on various health outcomes,” Duck-Chul Lee concluded.