Amateur cyclists have it all. Pedaling for pleasure or to go to the office reduces all cardiovascular risk factors.
Pedaling for fun or for getting around on a daily basis reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, say two studies published simultaneously in scientific journals Circulation and the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The bicycle has long been used by doctors to fight against heart disease in people at high risk. But what about its benefits in the general population?
To find out, researchers at the University of Southern Denmark studied 45,000 Danes between the ages of 50 and 65 who enjoyed cycling. During the 20 years of follow-up, nearly 2,900 myocardial infarctions were identified.
The authors’ analysis reveals that using a bicycle regularly for a walk reduces the risk of having a heart attack by 11%, while pedaling to the office reduces this risk by 18%. In addition, by comparing “young cyclists” to recalcitrant, the researchers showed that the cardiovascular risk decreases by 25% in the first 5 years of practice.
And to reap these benefits, you don’t have to take the Tour de France. The protective effects of cycling are visible from 30 minutes per week. Researchers estimate that about 7% of heart attacks could have been prevented if the sufferers had biked or moved more.
Acts on the whole body
In addition, cycling is not only good for the heart but for the whole body. The second study published in Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that amateur cyclists are less likely to be obese, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes than others. In short, cycling fights against all cardiovascular risk factors.
To reach this conclusion, researchers at Lund University (Sweden) followed more than 20,000 people aged between 40 and 60, for more than 10 years. Throughout the study, they monitored their lifestyle, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
At the start of the study, the researchers calculated that volunteers who used their bikes to get to work had a 15% lower risk of being obese and having cholesterol, as well as a 13% lower risk of having high blood pressure and diabetes, compared to participants who used public transport or their car.
Never too late to get started
During the study, the scientists noted that “the passive ones” who decided to change their lifestyle and opt for cycling reduced the risk of metabolic disorders. Ultimately, the benefits of this means of locomotion are confirmed. Pedaling every day reduces the risk of obesity by 39%, the risk of hypertension by 11%, the risk of high cholesterol by 20% and the risk of diabetes by 18%.
For the Danish and Swedish authors, this work confirms the virtues of cycling in the general population, and suggests that this environmentally friendly means of transport with many advantages should be promoted by the authorities. And good news: it’s never too late to get started and reap the cardiovascular benefits. For the less courageous, the electric version is just as beneficial.
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