Doing 40 push-ups at once will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research in the US shows that the more you do push-ups, the less likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke.
According to new research published inJAMA Network Open, push-up ability is associated with future cardiovascular events. People who can do more than 40 push-ups at a time will reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by 96%.
This is a simple, quick way to check your heart health without the time and expense of traditional physical assessments, said study author Steafanos N. Kales, MD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Research data were collected from 1,104 firefighters, between 2000 and 2010. The average age of participants was 39.6 and the average body mass index (BMI) was 28.7.
Researchers assessed the participants’ push-up ability, as well as their fitness. The results showed that participants who could complete more than 40 push-ups had a 96% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure, over the 10-year follow-up period.
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Regular push-ups improve your posture and are good for your heart.Photo: Health |
However, the study subjects only included active, middle-aged men. There are many people including women who cannot do push-ups, people with cardiovascular disease or people with physical disabilities, injuries, lack of upper body and arm strength who may also have difficulty performing this test.
Dr. Guy L. Mintz, director of cardiology at Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in New York, said that a person's health and previous exercise history should be used to determine the appropriate exercise, such as walking, running or cycling.
“Exercise at work is a great idea,” says Mintz.
