Check Your
Physical Activity & Heart Disease I.Q.
Prepared by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute; NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Test how much you know about how physical
activity affects your heart. Mark each statement true or false. See how you did
by checking the answers on the back of this sheet. |
1. |
Regular physical activity can reduce your chances
of getting heart disease. |
T |
F |
2. |
Most people get enough physical activity from
their normal daily routine. |
T |
F |
3. |
You don't have to train like a marathon runner to
become more physically fit. |
T |
F |
4. |
Exercise programs do not require a lot of time to
be very effective. |
T |
F |
5. |
People who need to lose some weight are the only
ones who will benefit from regular physical activity. |
T |
F |
6. |
All exercises give you the same benefits. |
T |
F |
7. |
The older you are, the less active you need to
be. |
T |
F |
8. |
It doesn't take a lot of money or expensive
equipment to become physically fit. |
T |
F |
9. |
There are many risks and injuries that can occur
with exercise. |
T |
F |
10. |
You should consult a doctor before starting a
physical activity program. |
T |
F |
11. |
People who have had a heart attack should not
start any physical activity program. |
T |
F |
12. |
To help stay physically active, include a variety
of activities. |
T |
F |
How well did you do?
Answers to the Check Your Physical Activity and Heart
Disease I.Q. Quiz
1. |
True. |
Heart disease is almost twice as likely to
develop in inactive people. Being physically inactive is a risk factor for
heart disease along with cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, and being overweight. The more risk factors you have, the greater
your chance for heart disease. Regular physical activity (even mild to moderate
exercise) can reduce this risk. |
2. |
False. |
Most Americans are very busy but not very active.
Every American adult should make a habit of getting 30 minutes of low to
moderate levels of physical activity daily. This includes walking, gardening,
and walking up stairs. If you are inactive now, begin by doing a few minutes of
activity each day. If you only do some activity every once in a while, try to
work something into your routine everyday. |
3. |
True. |
Low- to moderate-intensity activities, such as
pleasure walking, stair climbing, yardwork, housework, dancing, and home
exercises can have both short- and long-term benefits. If you are inactive, the
key is to get started. One great way is to take a walk for 10 to 15 minutes
during your lunch break, or take your dog for a walk every day. At least 30
minutes of physical activity everyday can help improve your heart health. |
4. |
True. |
It takes only a few minutes a day to become more
physically active. If you don t have 30 minutes in your schedule for an
exercise break, try to find two 15-minute periods or even three 10-minute
periods. These exercise breaks will soon become a habit you can't live without.
|
5. |
False. |
People who are physically active experience many
positive benefits. Regular physical activity gives you more energy, reduces
stress, and helps you to sleep better. It helps to lower high blood pressure
and improves blood cholesterol levels. Physical activity helps to tone your
muscles, burns off calories to help you lose extra pounds or stay at your
desirable weight, and helps control your appetite. It can also increase muscle
strength, help your heart and lungs work more efficiently, and let you enjoy
your life more fully. |
6. |
False. |
Low-intensity activities--if performed
daily--can have some long-term health benefits and can lower your risk of heart
disease. Regular, brisk, and sustained exercise for at least 30 minutes, three
to four times a week, such as brisk walking, jogging, or swimming, is necessary
to improve the efficiency of your heart and lungs and burn off extra calories.
These activities are called aerobic--meaning the body uses oxygen to produce
the energy needed for the activity. Other activities, depending on the type,
may give you other benefits such as increased flexibility or muscle strength.
|
7. |
False. |
Although we tend to become less active with age,
physical activity is still important. In fact, regular physical activity in
older persons increases their capacity to do everyday activities. In general,
middle-aged and older people benefit from regular physical activity just as
young people do. What is important, at any age, is tailoring the activity
program to your own fitness level. |
8. |
True. |
Many activities require little or no equipment.
For example, brisk walking only requires a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
Many communities offer free or inexpensive recreation facilities and physical
activity classes. Check your shopping malls, as many of them are open early and
late for people who do not wish to walk alone, in the dark, or in bad weather.
|
9. |
False. |
The most common risk in exercising is injury to
the muscles and joints. Such injuries are usually caused by exercising too hard
for too long, particularly if a person has been inactive. To avoid injuries,
try to build up your level of activity gradually, listen to your body for
warning pains, be aware of possible signs of heart problems (such as pain or
pressure in the left or mid-chest area, left neck, shoulder, or arm during or
just after exercising, or sudden light-headedness, cold sweat, pallor, or
fainting), and be prepared for special weather conditions. |
10. |
True. |
You should ask your doctor before you start (or
greatly increase) your physical activity if you have a medical
condition such as high blood pressure, have pains or pressure in the chest and
shoulder, feel dizzy or faint, get breathless after mild exertion, are
middle-aged or older and have not been physically active, or plan a vigorous
activity program. If none of these apply, start slow and get moving. |
11. |
False. |
Regular, physical activity can help reduce your
risk of having another heart attack. People who include regular physical
activity in their lives after a heart attack improve their chances of survival
and can improve how they feel and look. If you have had a heart attack, consult
your doctor to be sure you are following a safe and effective exercise program
that will help prevent heart pain and further damage from overexertion. |
12. |
True. |
Pick several different activities that you like
doing. You will be more likely to stay with it. Plan short-term and long-term
goals. Keep a record of your progress, and check it regularly to see the
progress you have made. Get your family and friends to join in. They can help
keep you going. |
NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service National Institutes of Health NIH Publication No.
96-3795 Originally Printed 1995 Reprinted August 1996
For Recorded Information on Heart Health, Call
1-800-575-WELL
|