How Not Exercising is More Dangerous Than Killer Diseases

You’ll start working out after reading this!

The importance of exercise has been stated time and time again because of its obvious benefits. Exercise is the key to a long, and healthy life but current trends are promoting an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. There are also many conditions people have that prevent them from doing this – or so they think. To burn fat is key and pre-existing conditions should not stop you, even coffee can increase your life expectancy but exercise so much more.

 

Not exercising is just as if not more dangerous than diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and lifestyles with a lot of cholesterol and smoking involved. CBS news has released a report done with a Cleveland Clinic Cardiologist that provides evidence of the harm not exercising can do to your body, with or without conditions. The test was done on 122,000 patients who did exercise treadmill testing at the Cleveland Clinic from 1991 through 2014.

The results showed that not only was exercise directly linked to a reduced risk of death, but that more exercise yielded greater benefits. As a matter of fact, the highest levels of aerobic fitness were linked to the greatest survival benefits, especially in older patients age 70 and over.

 

This finding contradicts several other studies done in the past that found a direct association between extreme exercise and certain heart troubles, including atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. However, the study, found that extremely fit patients in the study lived the longest. Even those with pre-existing conditions who exercised lived longer. All of the subjects in the study had previously undergone stress tests and were broken up into five performance groups: elite, high, above average, below average and low.

 

Elite performers were defined as having aerobic fitness in the top 2.5 percent by age and gender. They demonstrated fitness levels comparable to endurance athletes. In the group of participants over the age of 70, elite performers had a nearly 30 percent reduced risk of mortality compared to those rated as high performers.

 

Researchers said the study opens many possible opportunities to treat a sedentary lifestyle and not exercising as an illness. This can be done by encouraging activity through health insurance incentives, city and urban planning as well as providing specific exercise prescription for patients rather than the generic 10K steps a day cliche.

 

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.

 

There is no excuse to not exercise. The study authors note that their research analyzed findings over a large population, and individual patients should always check with their doctor before
starting an exercise regimen.