The benefits of exercise have been associated with longer life, reduction in risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's, asthma, and now, decreasing the mortality rate of cancer survivors.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that physical exercise is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in breast cancer and colon cancer survivors.
For decades, physicians have been telling sick or injured people that bed rest and not exerting oneself when ill or injured will help with the healing process. While this may be true for some conditions, by and large, it is becoming quite clear that movement, activity and exercise very often help and speed up the healing process and lead to less permanent disability or, in many cases, complete recovery.
As long ago as 1966, a fascinating study carried out at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School looked at the effects of healthy, hard-working, 20-year-old men resting three weeks in bed during a summer vacation.
3 weeks of rest and relaxation, what could be wrong with that? Well, it turns out a lot! By the end of the three weeks in bed, the researchers found surprising changes that included: faster heart rates, increases in blood pressure, decreases in the heart's pumping ability, decreases in muscle power and a rise in body fat. These were characteristics found in men twice their age. (This effect was due to too much rest — 7–8 hours of sleep a night is essential to overall good health.)
Subsequently, the same men were put on an 8-week exercise regimen, which not only reversed the negative effects of bed rest but actually improved their health beyond their starting measurements.
Astronauts have learned the same lesson when traveling in space: Exercise or get weak and/or sick!
These men agreed to be reexamined 30 years later. Though all remained relatively healthy, the effects of aging were quite noticeable. They had gained an average of 50 pounds from their weight at age 20. Their body fat doubled, blood pressure increased, but despite these common effects of aging, they were still not as compromised as they were when they got out of bed after 3 weeks of bed rest.
Reversing Age Related Decline
Once again, the men, now 50 years old, were put on a moderate exercise regimen for 6 months. Though they lost only 10 lbs. on average, their heart function and blood pressure returned to close to where they were when they were 20 years old. Exercise reversed much of their age-related decline.
Jean Baptiste LaMarck, a scientist in the early 1800's, developed the theory of "Use and Disuse." The theory basically said "use it or lose it!" Using your body in different and moderately challenging ways will help it resist the effects of time and aging. Using your lungs and heart for aerobic exercise will keep them fit and strong. Using your brain and cognitive skills to continue learning will keep most people sharp even into old age.
The handwriting is on the wall! If you are not exercising, there is no time like "today" to start.
Curt Hendrix M.S. C.C.N. C.N.S.
