Sports activity scores heart and brain goals!

When our three children were younger, they participated in various sports both during grade and high school levels. At the time I just thought of it as a good way to exercise and learn physical skills and sports rules, but there is much more. The American Heart Association (AHA) explains real-life benefits of sports help people of all ages get moving and stay healthy.

With the FIFA global competition captivating fans this summer, “Staying active is essential for both heart and brain health, and soccer delivers a unique combination of endurance, strength and high-intensity exercise,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, President of the NYC AHA, Board of Directors and Director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City.  “The best part is that anyone can do it, no gym or expensive equipment required. From casual games to solo practice, soccer is an easy and engaging way to stay healthy at any age.” Dr. Bhatt noted that, unfortunately, most people aren’t moving enough. 

According to the AHA 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, only one in four adults and one in five youths 6 to 17 years of age in the U.S. meet national recommendations for being active. Being active helps manage weight, lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels. Regular exercise can also improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety and lead to better sleep. Soccer and other sports also offer the kinds of physical activity that can improve brain health, by boosting aerobic capacity and oxygen and blood flow to the brain. 

“With only a fraction of adults and youth meeting physical activity guidelines, we’re setting the stage for higher rates of heart disease and other chronic conditions,” said Dr. Bhatt.  “These diseases develop over decades, but research shows that starting healthy habits early can change that trajectory... consistent physical activity plays a critical role in cardiovascular health by improving heart function, enhancing blood flow and reducing key risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and excess weight. Soccer is uniquely accessible as it can be played anywhere, by anyone, and at any skill level.”  

As with most sports, there are local teams to join along with school clubs and after school programs.  We were fortunate that in our Yorktown Central School District and outside clubs there were scores of activities our children were enrolled in growing up. Besides physical benefits, having your child join a sports team offers important mental and social advantages. The team-based nature of the sport fosters connection, camaraderie and emotional well-being. We truly know this to be true as in our family many of our children’s sports teammates became life-long friends into adulthood and now continue keeping in touch with their families and own children.

Throughout the soccer championship and other televised sports competitions, fans in New York are also getting the opportunity to learn a powerful, lifesaving skill. The American Heart Association is bringing its Nation of Lifesavers mobile CPR unit to the FIFA Fan Festival in Central Park.  At the unit, people will be able to practice Hands-Only CPR,, learn how to recognize cardiac arrest to respond quickly and build confidence to take action in an emergency. 

The initiative supports the Association’s goal to double the survival rates of cardiac arrest by 2030 by empowering more people to act in an emergency: “Cardiac arrest can happen anytime, anywhere, often at home with someone you love. Knowing Hands-Only CPR empowers you to act quickly and potentially save a life before emergency responders arrive.”

This summer, the American Heart Association encourages fans to turn inspiration into action, get moving, get playing and take a step toward better health. 

Families and civic groups and clubs might like to think of organizing a CPR course for its members over the summer when time might be more flexible and schedules free to learn these life-saving skills and become certified.  Those interested can also contact your local hospital or ambulance core to learn about when the next CPR sessions are being held.