Exercise seen good for heart attack risks

CHICAGO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Avoiding exercise for fear of triggering a heart attack actually could lead to an early death, a study shows.

A University of Michigan study says that even moderate physical activity can sharply cut the chance of dying among people with diabetes, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors, the Chicago Sun-Times said Friday.

In fact, people at high risk for heart disease benefit more from exercise than healthy people who exercise, said the university's Dr. Caroline Richardson who outlined her findings in the current journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Among those with the highest risk of heart disease, those who did exercise cut their chance of dying over the eight-year period by 45 percent compared with high-risk individuals who remained sedentary.

The study examined a representative sample of 9,611 people nationwide, starting in the 50s and early 60s, and following them for eight years.