By CHIOMA OBINNA

As cardiovascular diseases continued to ravage communities’ worldwide, appropriate exercise has been identified as key to promoting good health as well as keeping the six major risk factors of heart disease at bay. T

owards this end, Nigerians have been cautioned to take exercise seriously with a view to checking unnecessary deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Speaking during a free screening exercise organised as part of activities to mark this year’s World Health Day by the Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF, in Lagos, Chairman, 2012 Organising Committee, Dr. Funmi Akinloye said regular, moderate rhythmic exercise, such as walking, cycling or dancing help reduce blood pressure in people with the condition.

“Regular physical activity plays important role in achieving or keeping to healthy weight. ‘’The amount of activity you do is as important as the food you eat. This is because the exercise you do is as important as the food you eat. This means balancing the energy taken into your body (the calories in your food and drink) with the energy you use up (through activity), she noted.

She counseled that individuals who are overweight or are more likely to have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels and so have a greater risk of coronary heart disease.

“Physical activity can also help prevent people from getting diabetes, which is very important because men who have diabetes are about three times more likely to get coronary heart disease than those without diabetes and women with diabetes are about four times more likely to get the disease,’’ she stressed.

Exercise also helps prevent blood clotting as it helps to raise the protective cholesterol, but it is important to increase physical exercise gradually.”