Do you want to know how long you’re going to live? The answer could lie in how active you are.
A new study has found that exercise is a major indicator of longevity and can help predict the odds of developing heart disease or dying early.
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Past research has already shown that exercise has anti-aging effects. One study in particular found that just 25-minutes of brisk walking per day can add up to an additional seven years of life.
So, if you want to know how long and healthy your life might be, or your risk of dying early from a heart-related condition, consider how much you’re moving. New work from the Mayo Clinic linked artery health, exercise, and longevity.
Researchers found that people with coronary artery disease between the ages of 65 and 84 were less likely to die if they moved more. People who exercised the least were nearly twice as likely to die than those who exercised the most over 10-years.
Patients with healthy arteries had the lowest death rates overall, regardless of exercise frequency.
It should come as little surprise that exercise can do great things for you. There is a stack of evidence suggesting benefits for longevity including physical and mental health.
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Exercise might not be a fountain of youth or a peek into the future, but it could be the closest thing that exists. Getting your heart rate up for at least 25-minutes per day might be the best way to delay aging and the pitfalls of a struggling heart.
If you’ve got high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, starting slow is essential. Doing too much too fast can put you at risk. Splitting the 25-minutes per day into smaller portions can prevent over-exertion.
As always, consult your doctor before beginning a routine.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
