What money can't buy
Good health, often
mistaken to be the privilege of the moneyed, is actually a few exercise moves
away.
That's right, exercise of the right kind is medicine. And no, you do not need an elaborate routine
That's right, exercise of the right kind is medicine. And no, you do not need an elaborate routine
Those of you who have seen and
enjoyed Molière's play The Imaginary Invalid will remember the line, “Give him
two pills to cure all his ills“. The wealthy, with a fierce awareness of the
power that money commands, often wonder why they cannot buy their way to good
health. What harm could there possibly be in overriding the lifestyle changes
suggested by the doctor when you have at your disposal the most expensive
treatments?
For every creation in life, effort is essential. For the creation of wealth, mental acumen and hours of dedicated maneuvering are required. Did the wealthy ever create wealth without any effort?
(Not counting those of extraordinary inheritance or fluke luck, of course.) The same logic applies to the creation of good health.
For every creation in life, effort is essential. For the creation of wealth, mental acumen and hours of dedicated maneuvering are required. Did the wealthy ever create wealth without any effort?
(Not counting those of extraordinary inheritance or fluke luck, of course.) The same logic applies to the creation of good health.
Most chronic diseases like obesity,
high blood pressure, diabetes and the like require one to employ distinct
lifestyle changes through continued effort. These changes mostly involve a
wholesome diet and exercise regimen. Sure, medical science is making inroads
into obesity treatment through pills, but we are a long way from perfect.
Studies tell us that exercising individuals with chronic heart conditions do
just as well as those on medication, barring a subset with cardiac failure.
This establishes the immense potential of exercise, which in some cases, is
equivalent to medication. Now imagine a combination of both.
An article in the American Medical
Association's April 2015 journal extolls the value of exercise. The important
message in this study is that any leisure-time physical activity is associated
with a significantly lower risk of death when compared to no physical activity
at all. An evaluation of individuals whose workout was substantially less than
that outlined in the American physical activity guidelines of 2008 showed that
they still had a 20 per cent lower death rate than the ones who did not
exercise at all. Understandably, those who achieved the recommended exercise
rate of 7.5 to 15 MET hours per week had a 35 per cent lower chance of dying.
(MET stands for metabolic equivalent of the physical tasks performed a met
value of 5 means you are expending 5 times the energy than you would at rest.)
It is worth noting that those who exceed these levels had an even greater
reduction in death rate the peak permissible rate determined at 22.5 to 40
MET hours per week.Those who performed this could expect a whopping 40 per cent
reduction in death rate. As a rule of thumb 150 to 300 minutes of moderate
intensity exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise meets the minimum
requirement of 7.5 to 15 MET hours per week.
I think the heartening message in
this study is that even if you don't meet the bare minimum of 7.5 MET hours per
week there is a 20 per cent reduction in death rate. If you can manage two or three
times the recommended minimum, which is 280 to 420 minutes of brisk walking or
90 to 135 minutes of running, there is a 39 per cent reduction in death rate.
Beyond this there seems to be a plateau, giving you no extended advantage.
Studies of extremely vigorous exercise regimes warn us that death rate can also
be increased in the process.
Besides mortality, exercise also has
several other salutary effects. Studies tell us that women who walk for about
seven hours a week are half as likely to develop colon cancer as those who walk
for one hour a week. Walking has positive effects on blood sugar and decreases
the risk of diabetes as well.
An editorial in the American Medical
Association journal by Dr Todd Manini, associated with the University of
Florida, states that no single medication can positively influence as many
organs as possible by comprehensive exercise.
The answer is pretty clear. Put on
your walking shoes and go out for a brisk one, if you can, or simply pace up
and down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. Some physical
activities, no matter how scarce, can go a long way in securing your health.
Now that you know of the small wonders of exercise, there is no need to be
intimidated by fitness-fanatics and their larger-than-life regimen.
ALTAF PATEL
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MM7JUL15
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