HEALTH PERSONNEL say that increasing one's physical activity is important in the management of cardiovascular disease which is a major health risk for men. In fact, Dr. Marvin Reid, University of the West Indies' lecturer, said recently at the Blue Cross of Jamaica symposium on men's health, that cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality of the Jamaican male. Also, the prevalence of hypertension among males is 19.1 per cent and that of diabetes mellitus II is 9.5 per cent.
In addition, making the link between weight and ill-health, Dr. Reid said that about one in three Jamaican men are either overweight or obese and recent data from the Statistical Institute indicates that cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 36 per cent of the causes of death in adults; hypertension was the direct cause of 16 per cent of these deaths.
He could not put his fingers on current data that would determine the level of physical activity as it relates to the risk of cardiovascular disease in Jamaica but Dr. Reid pointed to United States research that indicates that nearly one-half of the American youths age 12 to 21 years are not vigorously active on a regular basis. About 14 per cent of young people report no recent physical activity. There was a decline in physical activity as the young people aged.
Dr. Reid pointed out that physical activity has been found to be beneficial in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, colon cancer, anxiety and depression.
"Adults who participate in as little as 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activities like golf, tennis, walking, dancing, swimming, gardening and actively playing with children, daily can expect better health," said Dr. Reid.
