How we destroy our hearts every day

Modern work damages the heart - you can do that against it

About half of the working population in Germany spends their everyday lives mainly sitting down. Persevering physical activity is the exception rather than the rule for many working women and men. What consequences does this have on our cardiovascular system? Serious - say cardiologists from the German Heart Foundation. On the occasion of the World Heart Day, the experts will give tips on how to relieve their heart in their daily work.

Heart specialists of the German Heart Foundation observe with great concern that around 50 percent of working people say that they mainly sit or stand at work and spend most of the day without any physical activity. "This increases the risk for risk diseases such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes," explains cardiologist Professor Dr. med. med. Thomas Voigtländer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the German Heart Foundation in a press release on World Heart Day.

With daily work while sitting or standing, we damage our heart and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. With small changes in everyday life, this risk can be massively reduced. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com)

Constant sitting and standing promote heart disease

As the cardiologist reports, overweight, obesity, hypertension and diabetes in turn increase the risk of heart attack and other heart disease. "For this reason, we want to help employees in Germany who work for hours sitting in their work to bring more exercise and a healthy lifestyle into everyday work in small steps with little effort," says Voigtländer.

Everybody is a blacksmith for his heart

"We have our own risk for heart attacks and strokes in our hands," emphasizes the heart expert. The German Heart Foundation states that around 80 percent of deaths from heart disease, occurring between the ages of 30 and 70, are preventable by controlling the risk factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Three times 30 minutes

According to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, it is recommended that everyone should have 30 minutes of endurance-oriented activity five times a week. "But with intensive physical activity three times a week for 30 minutes, a lot has already been achieved," reports Voigtländer. In addition, the movement brings a lot of positive side effects with it. For example, physical activity helps to reduce stress and make people more involved in healthy eating.

Not all factors can be controlled on their own

However, the heart specialists of the German Heart Foundation also warn that not all factors are self-controllable. "Non-influenceable factors are our age, gender and genetic bias," the experts write. Anyone over the age of 35 should have a precautionary exam at regular intervals to identify early risk factors such as high blood pressure, lipid metabolism disorders, diabetes and obesity.

Curb arteriosclerosis

As the cardiologists of the German Heart Foundation report, one can also slow down the progression of arteriosclerosis (arteriosclerosis) with movement. "An existing arteriosclerosis can also be counteracted by a changed lifestyle, in particular endurance-oriented movement," advises Voigtländer. The deposits that result from vascular calcification are critically responsible for chronic inflammatory processes and persistent circulatory disorders that can result in a heart attack or stroke.

Expert tips for a healthy working

The German Heart Foundation recently published a free action package on the subject of "heart-healthy work". For World Heart Day, the heart specialist Professor Dr. med. med. Martin Halle, Medical Director of the Center for Prevention and Sports Medicine of the Technical University of Munich, seven tips on heart health for everyday life:

1. Do not rush: Already ten minutes of endurance training a day has enormous health effects.
2. Every step counts: Movements in everyday life help to keep the heart healthy. Take a walk during your lunch break, do your shopping on foot or get off the bus one stop earlier on the way home.
3. Do without elevators: Regular stair climbing shows fast training success and is a great way to bring more exercise into everyday life.
4. It is never too late for a training startIf you already have heart disease, talk to a doctor about appropriate exercise options.
5. It's best to have fun: Above all, the regularity is important. This requires first and foremost self-discipline. Fun with the movement facilitates the permanent implementation.
6. Slowly make progress: First, the regularity should be respected, then the training duration can be extended and, lastly, the training intensity can be increased.
7. Incorporate small rituals into everyday life: Even during the work you should get up in between and go for a walk. In addition, you can integrate small strength and coordination exercises into everyday life, for example ten squats before each brushing.

(Vb)