Physical activity lowers risks of death in elderly irrespective of level of health
Being physically active is an important and integral part of overall
good health in every age group. It has its role in old age also and in
fact, experts say that 9% of all premature deaths are caused by not
getting enough physical activity. Physical activity is known to reduce
deaths from a host of diseases including heart disease, diabetes,
chronic disease, and mental illness.
A team of researchers looked at the relationship between death and physical exercise among older adults in Brazil and found that physical activity lowers risk of death in elderly irrespective of the level of health.
The investigators drew on information from the " COMO VAI"? study. During the study, from January to August 2014, researchers conducted home interviews with 1,451 adults older than 60. Of these, 971 participants were given wrist monitors to measure their physical activity. Researchers also asked participants about their smoking habits and how they would rate their health.
Additionally, researchers learned about the chronic health conditions participants said they had, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, Parkinson's disease, kidney failure, high cholesterol, depression, stroke and cancer. The researchers then rated participants' ability to perform their normal daily activities, including bathing, dressing, getting from bed to chair, going to the bathroom and feeding.
Not surprisingly, the researchers learned that people who had the lowest levels of physical activity had higher rates of death compared to people who had higher levels of activity.
The researchers concluded that their main findings suggest that low levels of physical activity are associated with higher risks of death, no matter what a person's level of health was. Overall, physical activity was important for avoiding early death in older men and women.
A team of researchers looked at the relationship between death and physical exercise among older adults in Brazil and found that physical activity lowers risk of death in elderly irrespective of the level of health.
The investigators drew on information from the " COMO VAI"? study. During the study, from January to August 2014, researchers conducted home interviews with 1,451 adults older than 60. Of these, 971 participants were given wrist monitors to measure their physical activity. Researchers also asked participants about their smoking habits and how they would rate their health.
Additionally, researchers learned about the chronic health conditions participants said they had, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, Parkinson's disease, kidney failure, high cholesterol, depression, stroke and cancer. The researchers then rated participants' ability to perform their normal daily activities, including bathing, dressing, getting from bed to chair, going to the bathroom and feeding.
Not surprisingly, the researchers learned that people who had the lowest levels of physical activity had higher rates of death compared to people who had higher levels of activity.
The researchers concluded that their main findings suggest that low levels of physical activity are associated with higher risks of death, no matter what a person's level of health was. Overall, physical activity was important for avoiding early death in older men and women.