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Inactivity could be the disease hurting your health
It's no secret. A lot of people don't exercise as much or as often as they should, but sould inactivity actually be considered a disease? Experts say to your body, it's essentially the same.
The good news? It is a disease you can cure. It's a simple fact. Our bodies were made to move. And when ours don't our body assumes something is wrong. "Being inactive is really a disease state. So, if you're not moving your body at all, you're not getting any physical activity, you are in, essentially, a state of decline," said Dr. Susan Joy. But you don't have to run marathons to reap the rewards. A new study by the "National Institutes of Health" suggests even low levels of physical activity can add years to your life. Researchers found people who got the recommended amount of exercise lived nearly 3 and a half years longer. But even people who got only half that amount added nearly two years to their lives. "You get a more substantial gain taking the sedentary people to low levels of activity than the moderately fit to more fit," said Joy. So how much is enough? It's recommended everyone aged 18 to 64 get 2 and a half hours of moderate exercise each week or one and a half hours of vigorous exercise. "We all need a little bit of physical activity. If you're not sure what your true exercise needs are for your goals, whether it's for hypertension, cardiac disease, for lowering your cancer risk, for managing your weight, for dealing with stress, that's worth talking to your doctor about because sometimes one type of exercise might help you get closer along to your goals than another," said Joy. Experts say in this case something really is better than nothing. One study actually found that regular brisk walking reduced your risk for a heart attack by the same amount as jogging. |
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