Researchers in Washington, D.C., checked the medical records of 10,043 veterans in the U.S. with high levels of harmful cholesterol.
Mortality risk was 18.5 per cent in people taking statins compared with 27.7 per cent in those not taking medications, Peter Kokkinos from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and his co-authors concluded in this week’s issue of The Lancet.
The researchers looked at the subjects’ aerobic exercise capacity using a treadmill test in units called METs, where one MET is the energy expended at rest. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists walking for pleasure as moderate intensity of 3.0 to 6.0 MET.
For each 1.0 MET increase in exercise capacity, the mortality rate fell by 17 per cent for those taking statins compared with 11 per cent in those not taking medications, the researchers said.
The findings of U.S. researchers only confirmed what has long been known by people in various parts of the world. Regular exercise can lower bad cholesterol and make you physically fit better than any kind of medicaiton prescribed by doctors. If you live in Canada, a South Burnaby health club like Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness can tell you the same thing, and this is the reason why they have many members working out there regularly.
It’s never too late to join clubs that promote fitness in Burnaby or in any other place in Canada. In the U.S., over 50 million people own gym memberships, and this has helped many reduce stress, combat diseases, and promote better sleeping habits. These all come in a package that does not include any harmful side effects, unlike prescription medicine that can be potentially fatal if ingested improperly or in overly large doses.
A statistic that people should know is that tens of thousands of Americans die each year from prescription drug overdose, reminding us that despite the fact that medicine helps us protect ourselves from diseases, they should be taken only with proper doctor’s supervision and approval. This is why it is important to seek out alternative ways to keep yourself healthy; health clubs provide not only facilities for people to exercise, but also trainers that can give priceless advice about your particular bodily needs. After all, each person is different and so you routine should be persnalized to suit your allergies, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
(From Fitness highly effective for lowering cholesterol, CBC News Health Section, November 28, 2012)
