The Power of Movement - Less Risks & Pain?

New findings confirm: both the quantity and quality of exercise have a profound impact on our health and well-being.

An international metastudy* involving nearly 227,000 participants highlights the importance of daily exercise. Surprisingly, only 4,000 steps per day are needed to significantly reduce the risk of death. The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reports that as few as 3,967 steps per day is enough to reduce the risk of dying early from any disease. Even more impressive: the risk of cardiovascular disease is already reduced at 2,337 steps per day. And every additional step counts - 1,000 more steps per day can reduce the risk of death by 15%.

Led by Maciej Banach, a renowned cardiology professor, it was found that there is no upper limit to the health benefits that can be achieved by taking extra steps. The study emphasized, "The more you walk, the better." This was true regardless of gender, age or climate zone of residence. The importance of physical activity should never be underestimated, especially since the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified it as the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Maciej Banach emphasizes that lifestyle changes in diet and exercise could be as effective or even more effective than many advanced medications in combating cardiovascular disease.

In parallel, a Norwegian study indicates that regular exercise can also increase pain tolerance. People who are more active not only have a lower risk of chronic diseases, but can also tolerate pain better. The study**, published in the journal PLOS ONE, shows that active people have higher pain tolerance on average. These findings may suggest that increased physical activity could reduce dependence on pain medications.

Taken together, these studies underscore the immense importance of exercise to our overall health, life expectancy and quality of life. Whether you choose to go for a walk, a run or a bike ride, every step counts. The best part? You don't have to run marathons - just start with a few thousand steps a day and build from there.

Sources: https://science.orf.at/stories/3220674/

*) https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad229/7226309

**) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285041