Twenty extra minutes of physical exercise each day is enough to reduce the risk of hospitalization in midlife, according to a study.
- A cardio activity of 20 minutes a day has a protective effect against hospitalizations.
- People over 40 who exercise regularly are less likely to be hospitalized for various health conditions in future years.
- The list included common illnesses like pneumonia, stroke, diabetes complications and serious urinary tract infections.
A leaner body, better shape, and healthier heart aren’t the only benefits of exercise. Exercising could also help you avoid being hospitalized according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.
Physical exercise reduces the risk of hospitalization in case of illness
According to the researchers, the effort required is within everyone’s reach: 20 minutes of exercise added to the daily routine could reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 4 to 23% over seven years.
To arrive at this result, the researchers examined the relationship between activity levels and the chances of being hospitalized in the coming years of 82,000 people aged 42 to 78 years. Their physical activity was tracked for a week using monitors they wore on their wrists.
After about seven years, more than 48,000 study participants have been hospitalized for various reasons. Researchers found that for certain health conditions, people who were more physically active had lower risks.
For example, physical exercise reduced the risk of being hospitalized for gallbladder disease, urinary tract infection, blood clots, stroke, diabetes-related complications, pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia ( iron deficiency), colon polyps and diverticular disease (formation of small “pockets” in the wall of the colon).
This ranged from a 4% lower risk of hospitalization for colon polyps to a 23% lower risk of being hospitalized for diabetes.
All cardio exercises are good for your health
“Studies show physical activity can improve immune function, lung and heart health, insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation“said lead researcher Eleanor Watts of the US National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland.”Physical activity can also reduce body fat, high blood pressure and cholesterol“.
And if moderate to vigorous intensity exercises are recommended, there is no need to start running, cycling uphill or chaining lengths of swimming pools to improve your health! All heart-pounding, sweat-inducing exercises, such as brisk walking, bicycling on level ground, or gardening, are recommended.
“Almost any physical activity is better than inactivity”, summarizes Dr. Chip Laviemedical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans.
And even if you’ve been sedentary for years, it’s never too late to get moving again, say researchers.
