Physically Fit Teens have Healthy Blood Vessels.

Jojy Cheriyan MD;MPH-June10,2013

Teens who are physically fit and regularly engage in exercise and sports have healthy arteries. In the past, some studies reported that teens who spent more time in video games and texting were more likely to be overweight. But, this new study published online today in the Journal of Pediatrics measured the changes in the wall-thickness and elasticity of major arteries like aorta and carotids among active teens and sedentary teens. It is known that higher thickness and reduced elasticity of blood vessels like aorta and carotid are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. These changes occur with aging.

The researchers of this study are affiliated with University of Turku, Finland. They followed up 1062 infants enrolled in the Special Turk Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project during1990-1992, when these infants were 6 months old.

Among these infants, 540 were randomized to a dietary intervention while 522 were assigned to the control group. Aortic and carotid ultrasound measures were provided for 449 and 467 adolescents, respectively.

Data on fitness were available for 341 (76%) of the adolescents with aortic measures and 355 (76%) of those with carotid measures.

The analysis of this study, which is done after 15 years, shows that teens who actively involved in physical fitness activities have adequate thickness of aortic wall and better elasticity than teens who led sedentary life style.

This study indicates that fitness is more important than 'fatness' to enhance vascular health. The message is, teenagers who do not exercise are causing irreparable damage to their arteries which adds up as they age.

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