Introduction to the Study
Sorry, fellas. New research suggests that men may need to exercise twice as much as women to lower their chances of developing a major health threat that kills them more often. “This study provides strong evidence that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot and should not be used to guide physical activity recommendations for men and women,” Dr. Emily Lau, a cardiologist, wrote in an editorial.
Current Guidelines and Findings
The CDC recommends that US adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, plus two muscle-strengthening sessions, to stay physically and mentally healthy. To see how those guidelines affect coronary heart disease risk, Chinese researchers analyzed data from more than 80,000 UK Biobank participants who wore activity trackers. They found that women who reached the 150-minute target had a 22% lower risk of being diagnosed with coronary heart disease — compared with just 17% for men.
Exercise and Coronary Heart Disease Risk
The gap widened with more exercise: Women who worked out 250 minutes a week cut their risk by 30%, while men had to log a staggering 530 minutes to achieve the same benefit.
“This isn’t bad news for men; it’s just something we should know about,” Dr. Nir Eynon, an Australian researcher in epigenetics, aging and exercise who was not involved in the study, told New Scientist. “Once we know, we can do better — we can do more exercise. And while it’s reassuring for women who are busy all the time, I also think women should not miss the fact that they need to exercise as well,” he added.
Understanding Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease strikes when the arteries can’t deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart, often because of plaque buildup. It’s the most common form of heart disease, affecting roughly 1 in 20 American adults, according to the CDC. In 2022, it claimed more than 370,000 lives in the US. While it is a leading killer for both sexes, death rates are higher in men, especially among younger adults. Coronary heart disease can lead to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea and dizziness. Nattakorn – stock.adobe.com
Physiological Differences Between Men and Women
Scientists are still working to understand why women might gain more cardiovascular benefits from exercise than men, but there are a few theories. “Physiologically, circulating estrogen levels are much higher in females than in males, and estrogen can promote body fat loss during exercise,” Dr. Jiajin Chen, one of the study’s authors and a researcher at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in China, told ABC News. The hormone also relaxes arteries, balances cholesterol levels and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress — all factors that affect coronary heart disease. Women appear to have an edge over men when it comes to exercise reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. ty – stock.adobe.com
Muscle Type and Exercise Efficiency
Muscle type may also play a role. Men typically have more “fast-twitch” muscles, which are ideal for short, powerful movements, while women generally have more “slow-twitch” muscles, which can make their bodies more efficient during long workouts. “These physiological differences may partly explain the increased sensitivity to physical activity and greater cardiovascular benefit observed in females,” Chen said.
Implications and Recommendations
The study findings may encourage physically inactive women to exercise more, potentially lowering their cardiovascular risk, the researchers suggested. But, as Lau points out, it’s not that simple. “We see time and time again that women are less physically active and less likely to achieve the recommended physical activity targets,” she wrote. A 2020 CDC study backs this up, showing that men were more likely to meet both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines (28.3%) compared with women (20.4%). “This highlights an opportunity for the medical community to think about how we can tailor our recommendations to women,” Lau wrote. “Because what we are doing now is not quite working.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study suggests that men may need to exercise twice as much as women to lower their risk of coronary heart disease. The physiological differences between men and women, including estrogen levels and muscle type, may contribute to the varying benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health. It is essential to develop sex-specific exercise guidelines to promote physical activity and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
FAQs
Q: How much exercise do men need to lower their risk of coronary heart disease?
A: According to the study, men may need to exercise up to 530 minutes a week to achieve the same benefit as women who exercise 250 minutes a week.
Q: Why do women seem to gain more cardiovascular benefits from exercise than men?
A: The physiological differences between men and women, including estrogen levels and muscle type, may contribute to the varying benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health.
Q: What are the symptoms of coronary heart disease?
A: Coronary heart disease can lead to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness.
Q: How can women increase their physical activity to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease?
A: Women can start by aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, plus two muscle-strengthening sessions, and gradually increase their exercise duration and intensity over time.
