Can you post the full title of the paper showing that muscle is an independent factor for heart disease? your link seems to just go the main page for pubmed.

and if it really is an independent factor, then it seems there is more to the story and just having more time exercising.

my personal guess is that when we stress our bodies (within limits) that we are signaling a need to preserve cardiovascular strength. and I bet the body's response to this is life extending.

cheers!

p. s. I am now about 3 months into my experience with a weighted blanket at your suggestion. maybe I should write about it... but I have never actually written a medium post before ;-)