Twenty minutes of cycling to work is linked to healthier coronary arteries
A new study shows that individuals who walk or cycle for approximately 20 minutes to and from work have less atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. The connection remains even when researchers consider how physically active the participants were in their spare time.
“Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the Western world, and atherosclerosis is the principal underlying cause.
Peter Edholm, Associate Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science
Peter Edholm, Associate Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Halmstad University, together with research colleagues including Pontus Henriksson and Ángel Herraiz-Adillo at Linköping University, have investigated the relationship between active commuting and atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Active commuting refers to walking or cycling all or most of the way to and from work regularly.
The study has been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is based on data from the Swedish population study Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study (SCAPIS), in which approximately 30,000 individuals aged 50–64 underwent advanced cardiac examinations. This is the first study to examine the association between active commuting and atherosclerosis using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a method that provides more detailed information.
Peter Edholm in the Human Movement Lab at Halmstad University.
“Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the Western world, and atherosclerosis is the principal underlying cause. Atherosclerosis involves the accumulation of fat and inflammatory materials in the arterial wall, leading to plaque buildup. If the plaque ruptures, it may lead to a blood clot that blocks the vessel and causes a heart attack or stroke”, Peter Edholm explains, and continues:
“It is therefore crucial to prevent the progression of the disease. Previous research clearly shows that regular physical activity reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. At the same time, a relatively small proportion of the population achieves the recommended levels of physical activity.”
General guidelines state that adults should engage in at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. For many people, such recommendations may be perceived as a challenge in terms of time in everyday life. Since commuting to and from work is a recurring and integrated part of daily life for a large proportion of the population, Peter Edholm and his research colleagues suggest that active commuting may represent a practical and long-term sustainable strategy for promoting cardiovascular health and thereby improving public health.
“If you get off the bus two stops earlier and walk the last part of the journey, you incorporate valuable everyday physical activity into your day. It may seem like a small change, but over time it can make a difference to your heart health”, says Peter Edholm.
The study is based on the health effects associated with walking and conventional cycling. However, Peter Edholm points out that electric bicycles may lower the threshold for physical activity, particularly for individuals with longer commuting distances, of older age or with reduced physical capacity. Choosing the bicycle rather than the car, even with electric assistance, may result in greater daily physical activity compared to commuting by car, although this was not specifically analysed in the study.
Text: Vilma Olofsson
Photo: iStock, Dan Bergmark
