Experts from the American College of Cardiology's Sports and Exercise Cardiology say that regular exercise is essential for keeping your heart healthy, nwitimes reports.
The authors found that even milder forms of exercise, such as standing, can reduce the risk of heart disease.
The researchers noted that greater reductions in risk to the heart can be achieved with more exercise.
"The public media has embraced the idea that exercise may harm the heart and disseminated this message, thereby diverting attention away from the benefits of exercise as a potent intervention for the primary and secondary prevention of heart disease," Dr. Michael Scott Emery, co-chair of the Sports and Exercise Cardiology Council, said in a journal news release.
"The greatest benefit is to simply exercise, regardless of the intensity," Dr. Valentin Fuster, editor-in-chief of the journal, said in the news release.
The new study reviewed recent studies that suggested that excessive aerobic exercise may harm the heart. The current research shows that the benefits of high levels of training outweigh the risks.
The report was published Jan. 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"The available evidence should prompt clinicians to recommend strongly low- and moderate-exercise training for the majority of our patients," Emery said.
"Equally important are initiatives to promote population health at large through physical activity across the life span, as it [influences] behavior from childhood into adult life," he added.
