News
Monday, 2 September 2024
Almost every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of heart disease (1). A recent study has found that women can reduce their cardiovascular risk by a whopping 30 per cent by doing one thing - strength training (3) – but few women are taking part. This week is National Women’s Health Week, and one personal trainer is using it to raise awareness of this significant issue.
Local Personal Trainer Michael Behrakis knows only too well the impact cardiovascular disease can have. He has lost two aunts, both at a young age.
“I have a strong family history of heart issues. My father’s sister died when she was just 14 due to problems with her heart valves.
“My Aunt died of a heart attack at 57 years old. She had just retired and was leaving on a 10-month holiday. She arrived at the airport complaining of stomach pain. She died from a heart attack at the airport drop-off point due to calcified arteries.
“My Uncle is the longest-surviving heart transplant patient in Tasmania. He was 37 when he had his heart transplant and has had ongoing issues throughout his life.”
“My other two uncles have had minor heart scares.”
Michael has transformed his own health through strength training and founded his PT business DoDay to help others do the same.
Michael says that strength training has extensive health benefits but this new research shows that women actually get far more benefit than men, particularly for their heart health.
“The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that women who engaged in regular strength training had a 30% reduction in cardiovascular risk, while men only had an 11% reduction,” says Michael.
“The benefits of strength training are widely recognised, but I was surprised that the benefit was so much higher for women. It is significant.”
While cardiovascular disease is one of the most straightforward conditions for taking steps to reduce risk through lifestyle habits, according to the Heart Foundation women are less likely to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes. The earlier women can incorporate those habits into their lifestyle, the better (2).
The new study also found that if women engage in just one strength training session per week, they can reduce their risk of death by any cause by 14% and if they do three sessions per week, they can double that percentage.
Michael is providing a free information session: “Strength Training for Women: Gym Starter by DoDay,” at the St Luke’s wellness hub in Hobart on Thursday 5 September at 1 pm.
Michael has also launched a low-cost strength training program, Gym Starter, to help local women of all ages and fitness levels learn how to safely and effectively lift weights.
“We’ve launched Gym Starter to help women learn the basics of strength training in the gym. We know it can be intimidating going into that environment for the first time. But it doesn’t take long for them to feel comfortable with the right support and guidance,” he said.
The DoDay community of clients are also walking together in the Point to Pinnacle this November to raise awareness about this important issue while raising money for the Heart Foundation.
