A brisk walk ‘is better for a man than a woman’

EXERCISE has fewer health benefits for middle-aged women than men, a study has found.

A woman going for a brisk walk with her partner will gain less in terms of relaxing her arteries and lowering her blood pressure, say scientists.

A reduction in the stiffness of the arteries can lower the risks of developing heart or circulatory disease. The stiffness is a product of ageing and high cholesterol and fatty diets and puts more strain on the heart.

The blood vessels of 12 middleaged men and 12 post-menopausal women were tested by researchers at Loughborough University an hour after they did

brisk walk. Research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester showed both groups had improved arterial stiffness and blood pressure but stiffness was still higher in women.

The researchers are now looking at whether daily folic acid supplements could help postmenopausal women in relaxing their blood vessels.

Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation said: ‘Although post-menopausal women don’t see quite the same exercise benefits as men, staying active will still reduce their overall risk of developing heart disease.’

‘Overall risk of heart disease’