A new study suggests that if you're over 40, regular exercise may not just keep you fit, but it may also keep you out of hospital too. The findings are based on data from a large ongoing research project called the UK Biobank.
The Research
Researchers focused on nearly 82,000 participants between the ages of 42 and 78 who spent a week wearing wrist monitors that recorded their physical activity. They looked at the relationship between those activity levels and participants' likelihood of being hospitalized in the coming years.
After seven years of research, more than 48,000 study participants ended up in the hospital for a host of reasons, but people who were more physically active, had lower risks. Researchers found that among nearly 82,000 British adults, those who regularly exercised were less likely to be hospitalised for various health conditions including pneumonia, stroke, diabetes complications and severe urinary tract infections.
Just 20 Minutes of Exercise can cut hospitalisation
The findings suggest that if middle-aged and older people added 20 minutes of exercise to their daily routine, they could cut the risk of those hospitalisations, by anywhere from 4% to 23% over seven years.
Experts said the study expands on what people typically see as the benefits of exercise like improved fitness and healthier heart and that it could also help keep you out of the hospital.
It is important to work up a sweat
The study aligns with what's generally recommended to improve health, that we get at least 150 minutes of moderate 'cardio' exercise, or 75 minutes at a vigorous intensity, each week. Exercise gets the heart pumping and works up a sweat. Moderate intensity includes brisk walking, cycling on level ground and jogging, cycling on hills or swimming laps count as vigorous intensity.
For the nine conditions the study identified, the researchers estimated that it takes only an extra 20 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous cardio each day to reduce the odds of being hospitalised.
Conclusion
The main message is that almost any physical activity is better than inactivity, which is good news for people of all ages and fitness levels, but even if you've been sedentary for years, it's never too late to get exercising.
Source: https://www.upi.com
This is a helpful reminder to me that I'm guilty of letting my exercise slip, but I'm determined to get back on track.
After all 20 mins a day isn't too much to ask of anyone really and the benefits to our health are clear.
I am sure it's a helpful reminder for many of us. The pandemic has changed everything, including mental health and our routines.
Glad to hear and you'll have to let us know how you get on.