151. Only 30 minutes of weights each week cuts your heart disease risk in half
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Performing strength-training exercise for only 30 to 60 minutes each week can cut your risk of heart disease in half. According to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, people who performed muscle-strengthening exercise 30 to 60 minutes each week combined with any amount of aerobic activity had a 28 percent lower risk of dying from cancer, a 46 percent decreased risk of heart disease, and a 40 percent lower risk of premature death from any cause. Even when they did not perform aerobic exercise, the strength training provided health benefits. If this data doesn’t convince you to add one or two days of resistance training each week, know that lifting weights can help your body build more muscle to burn more calories at rest too.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
