Exercise in young adulthood can correct heart damage from preterm birth

Heart abnormalities caused by premature birth may be corrected with exercise in young adulthood, according to research presented at EuroCMR 2019, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology. Around 1 to 2% of young adults today were born more than two months prematurely (very preterm) and have heart abnormalities that increase their risk of cardiovascular disease. For instance, the heart is smaller and has to pump harder to supply the body with blood. The study enrolled 14 participants aged 18€“29 years old, of whom eight were born very preterm and six acted as controls. All participants underwent a