July 30, 2012    Contact: Sue Crosson-Knutson    312-334-2311    scknutson@vascularsurgery.org

CHICAGO - In awe, we watch the world’s best athletes run, hurdle, and swim their way into the record books. Their Olympic feats inspire us all.

“Olympians are the epitome of healthy bodies,” said Apostolos Tassiopoulos, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery. “It’s evident that years of training have contributed to their sculptured physiques, impressive athletic performance, and good health.”

For those of us who aren’t Olympians, at least 30 minutes a day of exercise is necessary. Exercise can improve both energy levels and general health. Physical activity pumps up the blood while lowering blood pressure both of which are beneficial for the vascular system.

“Regular exercise, eating healthier food in smaller portions, not smoking, and maintaining a  healthy body weight are important for overall well-being,” said Dr. Tassiopoulos. 

The lack of regular physical activity results in 250,000 deaths annually according to a 2003 report in the medical journal, Circulation. The mortality rate of least physically fit persons is 4.5 times higher than physically fit persons.

Regular exercise may reduce the risk of stroke, the fourth leading cause of death in America according to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2010 National Vital Statistics Report. In 2010, 137,000 Americans died of stroke.

“We can’t all compete at the level of the Olympics,” said Dr. Tassiopoulos. “But, the Olympic Games can inspire us to exercise 30 minutes a day.”  For more information on vascular health, log onto: www.VascularWeb.org

About the Society for Vascular Surgery®
The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is a not-for-profit professional medical society, composed primarily of vascular surgeons, that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research, and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 3,750 specialty-trained vascular surgeons and other medical professionals who are dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease. Visit its Web site at VascularWeb.org®. Follow SVS on Twitter and Facebook.