Do you wonder whether the hours you spend on the treadmill or exercising will really pay off? A big study that has been following over 13,000 nurses since 1986 found that those who were healthy and exercising or walking for exercise in 1986 were less likely to have any of 10 major diseases or have had heart surgery by age 70. They also were less likely to have cognitive impairment, physical impairment or mental health problems.
"Increasing energy expenditure from walking was associated with a similar elevation in odds of successful survival," as those who got more exercise, according to the conclusion of the paper published on the findings of the Nurses' Health Study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, January 25, 2010. "These data provide evidence that higher levels of midlife physical activity are associated with exceptional health status among women who survive to older ages and corroborate the potential role of physical activity in improving overall health."
This is great confirmation that beyond helping manage your weight, walking and exercise is a great retirement investment! Even if you can't put much money into savings, you can save up a nest egg of health for your later years.
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Source: Qi Sun; Mary K. Townsend; Olivia I. Okereke; Oscar H. Franco; Frank B. Hu; Francine Grodstein. "Physical Activity at Midlife in Relation to Successful Survival in Women at Age 70 Years or Older." Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(2):194-201.
I was in nursing most of my life and did a lot of walking and running around in hospitals and a few nursing homes. After my parents died I left nursing to attend the local university to learn about some other things. I work in housekeeping to get free tuition and am surprised concerning the poor health of most of my co-workers. Of course, I was raised on a small farm. There was always something to do and never a dull moment, for long:)