More physical activity may help cut racial disparities in heart health, report says

增加身体活动水平, especially among people at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, can greatly improve heart health and could help reduce racial disparities in heart disease, 根据一项新的科学报告.

The scientific statement from the 美国心脏协会, published Wednesday in the journal 循环, highlights the need to remove barriers to physical activity among groups at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, 包括年龄较大的成年人, 女, 黑色的, 有抑郁症, 残疾或社会经济地位低下, 或者住在农村地区.

Physical activity levels are often lower in these groups and increasing levels could help lower cardiovascular risks, 报告发现. It looked at individual and community-level physical activity and provided suggestions for how to increase it.

"Helping everybody improve their heart health is important,声明撰写委员会主席Gerald J. 杰罗姆在沙巴足球体育平台发布会上说. Jerome is a professor in the department of kinesiology at Towson University in Maryland.

"We know regular physical activity is a key component of optimal heart health,他说. "These findings provide an opportunity to focus our efforts on physical activity programs in places where people need them the most."

不到四分之一的美国人.S. adults meet federal guidelines for physical activity levels. These guidelines call for adults to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week – achievable with activities as simple as a 20-minute daily walk.

The statement offers suggestions for how to increase physical activity in communities that need it most. 例如, 它建议征求社区意见, engagement and leadership when developing strategies to remove barriers such as cost, 缺少机会或沙巴足球体育平台. It emphasizes the need to engage community members in the design of programs to increase participation and ensure cultural appropriateness. And it addresses the need for a team approach that includes input from health care professionals.

“不幸的是, many groups that have a higher risk of developing heart disease also on average report lower amounts of physical activity,杰罗姆说. "There is good news since some programs are focused on collaborating with communities to increase physical activity levels among high-risk groups."

但杰罗姆指出，还有更多工作要做. "More research funding is needed to support communities and researchers working together to develop engaging and sustainable ways that help residents increase their physical activity levels,他说. "Lawmakers should expand coverage for preventive care and support, such as assessment and programs that promote physical activity in the clinical setting."