Can Children's Participation in Physical Activities Reduce the Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases?

Why Does children's Participation in Physical Activities Reduce the Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases?

In real life, there are many children who engage in little physical activity and have a sedentary lifestyle, and this situation can be prevalent even among young children. Early intervention is crucial in reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in children. Research has established a relationship between the protective effects of moderate-intensity physical exercise and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The conclusion drawn is that boys aged 6 and above should engage in 60 minutes of daily physical activity, while boys aged 6 to 9 should aim for 80 minutes of physical activity each day. For girls in either of the mentioned age groups, the recommended daily exercise time can be 15 minutes less than that for boys. Hence, when assessing the required amount of physical activity for children, clinical practitioners should consider the distinctions based on age and gender.

Researchers from Sweden and Denmark conducted a study on over 200 groups of children and found that even at the age of 9, children with good physical health are at a higher risk of developing heart disease if they do not engage in physical exercise. Recent research from Finland has also indicated that prolonged sitting negatively impacts heart health. Experiments have shown that children with better physical fitness exhibit stronger arterial dilation capacity and enhanced cardiac function during exercise. Comparing regularly active children with those who are less active, the difference in risk factor scores (including blood pressure, resting heart rate, and body fat composition) can be as high as 11%.

The study results revealed that with every 15% increase in aerobic exercise during adolescence, the risk of experiencing a heart attack 30 years later decreases by 18%. Furthermore, increasing aerobic exercise also reduces the risk of heart disease in obese children. However, aerobic exercise alone cannot entirely offset the health risks posed by obesity. During childhood, maintaining a healthy weight alongside boosting aerobic exercise emerges as an effective method to reduce the likelihood of heart disease in adulthood.

Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that engaging in high-intensity exercises for an extended period can heighten the risk of death in children already diagnosed with heart disease. For young individuals, engaging in endurance exercises for five hours a week increases the risk of developing irregular heart rhythms. These two research outcomes emphasize that more exercise is not necessarily better; the key lies in establishing appropriate exercise duration and intensity based on one's individual physical condition. The goal of fitness exercise is to attain optimal exercise outcomes without incurring adverse consequences.