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Physical Inactivity: The Cinderella Risk Factor
May 12, 2014

runningYou know the story: Something considered totally unimportant, overlooked and overworked, ends up being the one.

It’s a theme that resonates, which is why the story has remained so popular through the years.

According to studies conducted around the world, physical inactivity in women over the age of 30 is that “Cinderella” factor. While smoking and obesity are often cited as major contributors to heart disease (and, let’s face it, they are) the one that often gets sidelined is that as little as 30 minutes of exercise several days a week can have a tremendous benefit.

Professor Wendy Brown, of the University of Queensland, Australia, told the BBC, “If you can do at least 30 minutes and preferably 45 minutes a day, you’ll see huge improvements in your health and reduce your risk of heart disease by half.”

Smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all conditions that need to be monitored and managed. But, one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to help is regular exercise. A 30-minute walk when the weather is nice will help you burn calories and reduce stress. And, since we know that better sleep is also important, exercise can help you there, too.

What do you do to keep active? How can you encourage the women in your life to keep up as they age? Let’s make sure Cinderella remains a story about good things happening to good people.

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