August 25, 2003 – The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gives housework their credentials.
Indeed, a recent survey conducted by the CDC to measure the level of physical activity of the population takes into account, for the very first time, activities such as gardening, housework and even walking to the grocery store. from the neighborhood.
The CDC also claims that an hour spent every day on activities such as angling, video games, miniature golf, darts and even a hot tub equals 30 minutes of slightly more intense activities.
US Minister of Health Tommy Thompson explained that this change is intended to make people understand that physical activity is not an absolute concept that should be measured in terms of “all or nothing”, and that every little activity helps to achieve better health.
However, even with the new measures, only 45% of American adults had an acceptable level of physical activity in 2001.
However, the benefits of a physically active life are well known. So, recently, researchers discovered1 that for patients with high blood pressure, approximately 75 minutes of exercise per week reduced systolic pressure by 12 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 8 mm Hg.
Other researchers have found that physically active men over the age of 50 reduced their risk of impotence by 30%.2.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to CDC, drweil.com, WebMD and ReutersHealth; August 13, 14 and 22, 2003.
1. Ishikawa-Takata K, Ohta T, Tanaka H. How much exercise is required to reduce blood pressure in essential hypertensives: a dose-response study.Am J Hypertens 2003 Aug; 16 (8): 629-33.
2. Bacon CG, Mittleman MA, Kawachi I, Giovannucci E, Glasser DB, Rimm EB. Sexual function in men older than 50 years of age: results from the health professionals follow-up study.Ann Intern Med 2003 Aug 5; 139 (3): 161-8.
