Exercising for a healthier and longer life

By Dr. Geno Pisciottano

Let me ask you a question, one that I had to ask myself recently, I might add. What would you be willing to do to decrease your chance of developing heart disease by up to 82 percent? Would it matter if I told you it wouldn’t cost anything? How about if it would also give you more energy and make you look and feel younger? Interested yet? What follows are three research studies, one for the guys, one for the gals and one for both, all relating this key fact:

Exercise and a healthy lifestyle equals longevity and an improved quality of life.

Let’s take a look at the research. The authors of a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine examined data on more than 6,000 men who had completed treadmill tests and were followed for an average of six years. The men were divided into two groups: those with normal exercise test results and no cardiovascular disease, and those with abnormal test results and/or a history of cardiovascular disease.

Exercise capacity – how long and how intense an individual could exercise – was estimated based on the grade and speed settings of the treadmill.

The study revealed that men who were able to work out longer and harder (or their “exercise capacity”) were the most likely to live longer. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Exercise capacity may be a better predictor of risk of death in men than other established factors associated with cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, hypertension and diabetes.

The key outcome of this study is that regular exercise is one of the best methods of promoting and predicting longevity and warding off disease.

Lower your chances of developing heart disease by 82 percent.

According to a Harvard study released at the annual American Heart Association meeting, women who actually follow all of the standard health advice – eat sensibly, don’t smoke, get some exercise, keep the weight down, have an occasional drink – can reduce their chance of heart disease an astonishing 82 percent. Many studies over the years have shown the importance of specific habits such as kicking cigarettes or cutting out saturated fat.

But Harvard researchers say theirs is the first to show what happens when people do everything they are supposed to. The research was done on middleaged female nurses, who presumable are fairly health-conscious. Yet just 1 percent of them actually followed all the rules.

The study results are very dramatic, because these are not drastic changes for people. Premature heart disease can be virtually eliminated by these lifestyle changes. Even though all the participants were female, it is likely that the results would be similar for men.

Are you willing to be part of the 3 percent?

Maintaining a normal weight, eating a nutritious diet, exercising and not smoking are all crucial to staying healthy, but only about 3 percent of people manage to achieve all four of these healthy habits, says a study of more than 4,000 Michigan residents. The Michigan Department of Community and the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention conducted a telephone survey of more than 4,000 Michigan residents.

Here’s what the study showed:

• 38 percent of adults maintained a healthy body weight.
• 20 percent ate the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.
• 25 percent engaged

in regular physical activity.

25 percent smoked

Not surprisingly, the study also revealed that those who reported being unhealthy were less likely to practice the behaviors than those who reported excellent health.

Let off the hook …

As we have seen, adopting a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating a well-balanced diet and not smoking can improve health and prevent disease, but the results of the following study let you off the hook – or at least it did before you read this article! Here’s what a review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported regarding living a preventative or healthy lifestyle: Just 2 percent of articles found in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine focused on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Since much of the health news in the United States comes from studies published in these two major journals, ordinary people are more than likely missing out on the prevention message.

There you have it. Three studies – one principle. Understanding this information is the first step toward improving your health – acting on it is the second step. Consider this fact: Most research on the development of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer, are going to reach new highs over the next two decades. So what we must ask ourselves is this: What will it take for me to follow the basic healthy guidelines listed above? It is my hope for your family as well as mine that the answer is: Whatever it takes, because it’s certainly worth the effort.

Dr. Geno Pisciottano is the owner of Wellness Chiropractic Center in Summit Corporate Center on Corporate Drive, Southpointe.

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