Does exercise help you live longer? This is a question that has been debated for years. Things have certainly changed in the last several years as conclusions have finally been drawn from ongoing studies on exercise. Now there is unequivocal data that proves regular vigorous exercise will enable you to live longer. In fact, it has been estimated that there are approximately 250,000 deaths in the United States each year that result from a lack of exercise. Recent research has led the Center for Disease Control, the American College of Sports Medicine and other groups to review and update previous recommendations about exercise. They now officially recommend that all Americans exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, preferably daily. The exercise can be accomplished in increments of as little as five to ten minutes. New research claims that regular exercise can add 10 years to your life…

 

The study has clearly demonstrated that exercise is associated with a lower death rate. Furthermore, the more you exercise, the greater the benefit. Vigorous exercise was defined as an activity that increases the heart rate and maintains it at a fairly rapid rate. Examples of vigorous exercise would be jogging, singles tennis, or vigorous walking. Other excellent forms of vigorous exercise would be swimming, racquetball, biking, and aerobic classes. In addition, the lower rates of death were from all causes and not just from heart disease.

 

Dr. Ken Cooper, of the Cooper Institute of Aerobic Research, found that exercise was associated with a 40 % reduction in heart attacks in females and a 60 % reduction in heart attacks in males. In another study, he found that people who were in the lower 20 % of cardiovascular fitness had a death rate that was three times higher than the most fit group. The study also showed that men taking up exercise, even after the age of 60, will increase their life expectancy.