Resistance Training Significantly Lowers CVD Risk in Women

Women who consistently performed resistance training had a substantially lower risk of major cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly heart attacks, according to a prospective study involving more than 117,000 U.S. women followed for an average of 14.5 years. Compared with women who did no resistance training, those engaging in at least 2 hours per week experienced a 20% lower risk of major CVD, while each additional hour of weekly resistance training was associated with a 5% reduction in risk. The benefit was especially pronounced for myocardial infarction, with a 44% lower risk among women performing at least 2 hours of resistance training weekly, although no significant association was observed for stroke. The greatest cardiovascular protection was seen among women who combined regular resistance training, recommended levels of aerobic exercise, and low sedentary television viewing time, reducing CVD risk by 40% compared with less active counterparts. Women who maintained resistance training consistently over time and incorporated both upper- and lower-body exercises experienced the strongest benefits. These findings suggest that long-term resistance training should be considered an important component of CVD prevention strategies for women. Source: https://www.jacc.org/