Gentlemen, Save Your Heart With Push-Ups!

According to SAEDNEWS, citing Harvard-affiliated researchers, the study followed firefighters in the state of Indiana for 10 years and concluded that the number of push-ups a person could perform at the beginning of the study was one of the most accurate predictors of conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, and even sudden cardiac death.

Researchers say that among men who could perform more than 40 push-ups, very few cardiovascular problems were recorded during the study period.

An interesting finding was that the push-up test was even more effective in predicting heart disease risk than some treadmill-based fitness tests. According to researchers, treadmill tests are often based on estimates and may not accurately reflect true physical fitness.

Participants were divided into five groups:

• Fewer than 10 push-ups

• 11–20 push-ups

• 21–30 push-ups

• 31–40 push-ups

• More than 41 push-ups

Over the 10-year follow-up period, only 37 cardiovascular events were recorded. The results showed that individuals who could do 21–30 push-ups had a 75% lower risk of heart problems compared to the under-10 group, while those able to do more than 40 push-ups had a 96% lower risk.

Researchers emphasized that push-up ability is not only related to arm strength but may reflect overall physical fitness and proper cardiovascular function.

Those who could do more push-ups generally:

• Had better blood pressure

• Had lower body mass index (BMI)

• Were less likely to smoke

• Had lower triglyceride levels

However, the researchers cautioned that the study only shows an association between fitness and heart health, and does not prove that doing push-ups directly prevents heart disease.

They also noted that a man capable of doing 40 push-ups should not assume he is completely protected from heart disease, but someone who cannot reach even 10 push-ups may want to evaluate their cardiovascular health.