EVERYONE OVER 30 should start lifting weights to prevent the development of heart disease, even if they are slim and fit, says American anesthesiologist Dr. Myro Figura.
In a viral video that has been viewed more than 250,000 times, Dr. Figura explains that the risk of cardiovascular problems increases significantly after the age of 30. This is because muscle mass begins to decline after 30, and a lack of muscle mass is known to reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that converts sugar from food into energy.
The body’s poor response to insulin can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, which according to some studies triples or even quadruples the risk of heart attack or stroke.
But Dr. Figura claims that exercises that strengthen muscles improve insulin sensitivity and thus help prevent disease.
“Exercise can reverse prediabetes and even the early stages of diabetes,” he said.
He gave the example of a woman who was recently diagnosed with prediabetes, even though she is in pretty good shape. In the video, the woman poses for the camera and says, “I’m pretty skinny, see?”
“It doesn’t matter what you look like. If you’re over 30, your body will have a harder time processing sugar if you don’t have muscle mass.”
Both prediabetes and diabetes increase the risk of heart attack
Dr. Figura points out that lack of muscle mass is a big problem when it comes to diabetes risk in people over 30. Muscle, he says, is “responsible for 80 percent of blood glucose metabolism.”
Research shows that both prediabetes and diabetes increase the risk of heart attack. In a 2021 study of 25,000 people (half of whom were diagnosed with prediabetes), 18 percent of them experienced a heart attack or stroke. In comparison, 14 percent of participants in the group with normal blood sugar levels had such events.
Experts have also found that exercise can reduce the long-term health risks associated with diabetes.
A 2024 study by Chinese scientists found that a healthy diet and regular physical activity can reduce the risk of death in people with prediabetes by 26 percent. In a study that followed 500 people for 30 years, those who did not develop diabetes for at least four years after being diagnosed with prediabetes had a 26 percent lower risk of death and a 37 percent lower risk of heart attack or stroke.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. It is different from type 1 diabetes, in which the body does not produce insulin at all because the immune system attacks the cells that produce it. Long-term high blood sugar levels can cause heart attacks and strokes, as well as problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. People with diabetes often have to change their diet, take daily medications and have regular check-ups. Symptoms include excessive thirst, fatigue and frequent urination, although many people have no signs of the disease.
Leave a Reply