323. Morning exercise associated with the lowest risk of heart disease and stroke
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Exercising in the morning appears to be associated with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. In a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers followed over 86,000 middle-aged and older adults who were free of heart disease at the start of the study. The participants wore activity trackers on their wrists. During six to eight years of follow up, almost 3,000 participants developed coronary artery disease and almost 800 had a stroke. The researchers found that participants who were most active in the early morning or late morning had 11 and 16 percent lower risks of coronary artery disease, respectively. Those active in the late morning had a 17 percent decreased risk of stroke. These reduced risks of morning exercise were consistent regardless of how much total physical activity they got each day.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
