Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the primary health concern for most countries around the world. Currently, more than 36 million people worldwide die from NCDs each year, accounting for ...63% of annual global deaths; most are preventable. The global financial burden of NCDs is staggering, with an estimated 2010 global cost of $6.3 trillion (US dollars) that is projected to increase to $13 trillion by 2030. A number of NCDs share one or more common predisposing risk factors, all related to lifestyle to some degree: (1) cigarette smoking, (2) hypertension, (3) hyperglycemia, (4) dyslipidemia, (5) obesity, (6) physical inactivity, and (7) poor nutrition. In large part, prevention, control, or even reversal of the aforementioned modifiable risk factors are realized through leading a healthy lifestyle (HL). The challenge is how to initiate the global change, not toward increasing documentation of the scope of the problem but toward true action-creating, implementing, and sustaining HL initiatives that will result in positive, measurable changes in the previously defined poor health metrics. To achieve this task, a paradigm shift in how we approach NCD prevention and treatment is required. The goal of this American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation/American College of Preventive Medicine policy statement is to define key stakeholders and highlight their connectivity with respect to HL initiatives. This policy encourages integrated action by all stakeholders to create the needed paradigm shift and achieve broad adoption of HL behaviors on a global scale.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the primary health concern for most countries around the world. Currently, more than 36 million people worldwide die from NCDs each year, accounting for ...63% of annual global deaths; most are preventable. The global financial burden of NCDs is staggering, with an estimated 2010 global cost of $6.3 trillion (US dollars) that is projected to increase to $13 trillion by 2030. A number of NCDs share one or more common predisposing risk factors, all related to lifestyle to some degree: (1) cigarette smoking, (2) hypertension, (3) hyperglycemia, (4) dyslipidemia, (5) obesity, (6) physical inactivity, and (7) poor nutrition. In large part, prevention, control, or even reversal of the aforementioned modifiable risk factors are realized through leading a healthy lifestyle (HL). The challenge is how to initiate the global change, not toward increasing documentation of the scope of the problem but toward true action-creating, implementing, and sustaining HL initiatives that will result in positive, measurable changes in the previously defined poor health metrics. To achieve this task, a paradigm shift in how we approach NCD prevention and treatment is required. The goal of this American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation/American College of Preventive Medicine policy statement is to define key stakeholders and highlight their connectivity with respect to HL initiatives. This policy encourages integrated action by all stakeholders to create the needed paradigm shift and achieve broad adoption of HL behaviors on a global scale.
Sedentary lifestyle is a significant health problem in the United States and a leading cause of preventable death. Low levels of physical activity promote obesity and contribute to other chronic ...diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and some forms of cancer. Vascular dysfunction is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis and associated with a sedentary lifestyle in otherwise healthy adults. In addition, vascular dysfunction may be exacerbated in sedentary adults who are obese since increased body fat is associated with elevated levels of pro-atherogenic inflammatory adipokines and cytokines that reduce nitric oxide bioavailability in vascular endothelial cells. A study examining the effects of single and multiple bouts of resistance exercise training on vascular function was carried out in sedentary obese young women. A total of 10 women completed the entire study. Subjects were evaluated at multiple time points before, during, and after participation in an 8-week moderate-intensity resistance exercise training intervention. At each time point subjects underwent a single bout of strenuous weight lifting designed to increase blood pressure. Vascular function was assessed before and after strenuous weight lifting using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and blood samples were obtained for measurement of circulating adipokine and cytokine levels. Other relevant physical and physiological variables assessed included: fasting lipids and glucose, red and white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, blood pressure, heart rate, anthropometrics, body composition, daily physical activity, functional capacity, muscular strength, and dietary patterns. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation was impaired in sedentary obese women after a single bout of strenuous weight lifting and an 8-week moderate-intensity resistance exercise training intervention completely reversed this impairment. In addition, resistance exercise training resulted in improvements in waist circumference, body composition, functional capacity, and muscular strength. There were no significant changes in fasting lipids or glucose levels, red or white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, or hematocrit, blood pressure, or heart rate as a result of the resistance exercise training intervention. Changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation post-acute exertion and after 8 weeks of resistance exercise training were not linked to obesity-related changes in circulating adipokine and cytokine levels.
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