Private MD News

Exercise may worsen heart health in some people

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Following an unhealthy cholesterol test, patients are often advised by their doctor to get more exercise. However, new evidence suggests that this recommendation may actually lead to worsening heart health for some patients.

Scientists from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University found that some people's cholesterol levels actually go up after they start exercising. Several other cardiovascular risk factors can also be aggravated.

The researchers began by examining the results of six previously published studies that dealt with the assocaition between exercise and heart health. Each investigation measured the effects of several weeks of physical activity on blood pressure, insulin, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Results showed that 10 percent of participants had declining health in at least one category after completing an exercise program. An additional 7 percent had worse scores in two measures.

The team said that other factors, including participants' age, race, gender or previous levels of physical fitness, could explain the association between exercise and worse cardiovascular health in some patients. Further investigation is needed to help the medical community understand these findings.