Increased exercise reduces the frequency of abnormal heart rhythms!

An excellent article published by the European Society of Cardiology found that implementing a regular exercise routine reduced the frequency of abnormal heart rhythms.

The researchers included a population of 295 individuals with a known heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation (“a fib”), which causes uncoordinated contractions in the top part of the heart— the atria. There are many known risk factors for this heart arrhythmia, including physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.

The subjects were divided into two groups, with one group receiving a regular, weekly high-intensity exercise program over the course of a year. The other group (the control) received no structured exercise intervention.

Those individuals engaging in regular high-intensity exercise were found to have a 45% reduction in their burden of atrial fibrillation! The exercising group also had a 37% reduction in total hospitalizations!

There seems to be a ‘sweet spot’ though as it relates to intense exercise, with around 150 minutes a week being optimal, as extreme and prolonged exercise is thought to actually increase the risk of heart problems and arrythmias! Reference here.

This research finding provides yet more support for regular, weekly exercise. Time to put on the running shoes!