How to take care of your heart through sport

According to the WHO, physical inactivity is the fourth risk factor for mortality in the world. The French Federation of Cardiology is organizing the Bien Vivre festival on Saturday to show that a little physical activity brings real benefits to the heart.

Learning to “live well” your health is possible and it can even be enjoyable. To demonstrate this, the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC) is organizing its 1st Festival of “Living Well” this Saturday, September 6 in Paris (Place de la République). For this occasion, she invites families and friends to come in large numbers to learn simple ways to relax, practice regular physical activity and cook good balanced meals, all while having fun. The purpose of this event including why actor is a partner, reducing cardiovascular disease by 80% through positive prevention. How? ‘Or’ What ? For example, by promoting physical activity.

3/4 of the French take less than 10,000 steps per day
Today, insufficient physical activity represents a real epidemic. Particularly in industrialized countries, where lifestyle is responsible for the increase in morbidity.
In figures, sedentary lifestyle is nowadays the 4^th risk factor for mortality after hypertension, smoking and diabetes around the world. And 3/4 of the French do not take the 10,000 steps per day recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). “ It might sound like a lot, but most people do about half of it in a normal day. This means that it suffices to add 4,000 to 6,000 steps per day to reach the goal, which corresponds to thirty minutes of activity, ”specifies the FFC.

An effort that is worth it since breaking the spiral of sedentary lifestyle brings immediate results. “Half an hour of daily practice manages to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 25 to 30%,” recalls the FFC. This also limits the risk of recurrence in heart patients…. but it is necessary to practice an activity or a sport adapted to the age, to the corpulence and especially while having fun.
So, for other advice, find below the interview between Pr Hervé Douard (Vice President of the FFC), cardiologist at the Bordeaux University Hospital and Kévin Coique, fitness teacher and founder of Mouv’K. Two professionals that you will obviously find at the Festival du Bien Vivre.

Pr Hervé Douard, cardiologist at Bordeaux University Hospital. Vice President of the FFC

What frequency of sport do you recommend?

Pr Hervé Douard: Both for subjects who have not had heart problems and for those who have already had them, we recommended before a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day. But hey, we now know that it is impossible to hold. Suddenly, today we recommend 3 times a week 30 minutes of sporting activity. There really, we begin to have an optimal benefit for heart health. Despite everything, it is far from being applied by most of our patients.

As sports, I recommend especially those of endurance in which one makes a continuous effort as long as possible (running, fast walking, cycling …)
On the other hand, all sports with brutal efforts are not recommended for heart patients.

Do you apply these principles to yourself?
Pr Hervé Douard: Personally, I am unable to follow these recommendations, due to a question of timing. But I am not a good example. When we really want, we always find time to play sports. In fact, a pair of shoes is always enough for a little jog. I have colleagues who have the same schedule as me and who manage to do an hour of sport a day.

For me, the excuse of professional overwork is not valid. Moreover, I always refute it in consultation.

How should sports or fitness teachers behave with heart problems?
Pr Hervé Douard: They really have to take into account the psychology of the athlete. For example, people who often engage in sport to excess, after heart problems, are often in denial of the disease and do anything. Sports teachers should especially know that bodybuilding in someone who has already been bypassed is to be avoided.

Finally, they must constantly tell them to respect the instructions for progressive work, warm-up and active recovery.
One last tip, they should always ask your clients for the heart rate and adapt the sport accordingly.

Kévin Coique, fitness teacher and founder of Mouv’K

What do you recommend to your customers?
Kevin Coique: Already I advise them to do endurance exercises to strengthen their heart (running, walking). But also to rest well after each session.
In addition, I ask each client for their heart rate. And if he doesn’t know her, I’ll take it from him. Then I place him at a threshold so that he can muscle his body and do himself good at the same time.
Finally, I always make sure that he hydrates well and eats as well as possible.

Do you yourself have an irreproachable hygiene of life?
Kevin Coique: Already I never consume energy drinks. But I do not deprive myself. I eat healthily.

On the other hand, I do not hide it, I take food supplements. But only because I have high physical activity. So, to compensate for everything that is not found in food, I supplement with animated acids just for muscle recovery.
But I always tell my customers to be very careful with these products. And I advise them on how to take them. The goal is not to make them look like Hercules! Especially since it is quite possible to gain muscle without products.
On the other hand, I have a problem, it is that I rest my body little. But just like your cardiologist I am not an example.

Precisely, any advice for our cardiologist?
Kevin Coique: I will not allow myself!
Because when the cardiologist gives advice, in general I always agree.
In fact, we are doing complementary work. With a common goal, to promote sport so that people stay healthy.