As little as 15 MINUTES of daily exercise can add 3 years to your Life!

How simple is that?!  Daily exercise does not have to be complicated!   Just walk for 15 minutes (the easiest and  quickest form of exercise) a day. Maybe it's just taking the dog for a walk, walking to the corner and back, or what are your ideas???

Here's the scientific proof: an article just published in the prestigious English medical journal, Lancet.  Read it and Get Moving!


Study: Daily Light Exercise Can Reduce Risk of Death, Increase Life Expectancy

By Theresa Bebbington
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Roger Henderson, MD

Aug. 16, 2011 -- A study published by The Lancet shows that if inactive people increased their physical activity by just 15 minutes per day, they could reduce their risk of death by 14% and increase their life expectancy by three years. The study compared inactive people with active people who engaged in a range of different levels of physical activity.

Many health organizations, such as the World Health Organization, recognize the benefits of physical activity and recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week. However, whether or not less exercise than this recommendation can benefit life span had been unclear.

Chi-Pang Wen, MD, MPH, DrPH, of National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan and China Medical University Hospital, and Jackson Pui Man Wai, PhD, of National Taiwan Sport University, and their colleagues assessed the health benefits of a range of physical activity levels. The study included more than 400,000 people participating in a medical screening program in Taiwan between 1996 and 2008, with an average follow-up of eight years. On the basis of self-reported weekly exercise, participants were placed into one of five categories of exercise levels: inactive, low, medium, high, or very high. The authors calculated hazard ratios (HR) for mortality risks for every group compared with the inactive group, and they calculated life expectancy for every group.

Low levels of physical activity still provides benefits

Compared with individuals in the inactive group, those in the low-volume activity group, who exercised for an average of 92 minutes per week (about 15 minutes a day), had a 14% reduced risk of death, a 10% reduced risk of dying of cancer, and on average a three year longer life expectancy. Every additional 15 minutes of daily exercise beyond the minimum amount of 15 minutes a day further reduced the risk of death by 4% and cancer death by 1%. These benefits were applicable to all age groups and both sexes, and to those with heart disease risks. Individuals who were inactive had a 17% increased risk of death compared with individuals in the low-volume group.

The authors write in the study, "If the minimum amount of exercise we suggest is adhered to, mortality from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer could be reduced. This low volume of physical activity could play a central part in the global war against non-communicable diseases, reducing medical costs and health disparities."

In a commentary, Anil Nigam, MD, and Martin Juneau, MD, of the Montreal Heart Institute and the Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada, conclude, "The knowledge that as little as 15 minutes per day of exercise on most days of the week can substantially reduce an individual's risk of dying could encourage many more individuals to incorporate a small amount of physical activity into their busy lives. Governments and health professionals both have major roles to play to spread this good news story and convince people of the importance of being at least minimally active."

The study "clearly shows that although a little amount of physical activity is good, more is better," they write.

SOURCES: Wen, C.P. The Lancet, published online Aug. 16, 2011.U.K. Department of Health: "Physical activity guidelines for adults (19-64 years)."NHS Choices: "Physical activity guidelines for adults." ©2011 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Always Explore Your Treatment Options!

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Navigating the Health Care System Advice Columns from Dr. Carolyn Clancy AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D., has prepared brief, easy-to-understand advice columns for consumers to help navigate the health care system. They will address important issues such as how to recognize high-quality health care, how to be an informed health care consumer, and how to choose a hospital, doctor, and health plan. Check back regularly for new columns. Dr. Clancy, a general internist and researcher, is an expert in engaging consumers in their health care. Select for Previous Columns. Select to view Navigating the Health Care Video Advice Columns from Dr. Clancy. Why You Need to Explore Your Treatment Options By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. August 2, 2011 Hearing that you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or some other serious condition can be a life-changing moment. Finding the best treatment option to manage it takes a bit longer, but it can make a major difference in your health and well-being. Patients often think only their doctors and nurses know what to do. And they do have skills and training to help you. But keep in mind that you're the one with the serious condition. It is important to understand your condition, know how medicines make you feel, and describe what matters most to your quality of life. To help patients better understand their treatment options, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a developed new tips, consumer guides, and other resources. You can even read stories from patients who took time to learn about their treatment options. Steve is one such patient. In 2005, the 33-year-old engineer weighed 300 pounds and was always tired. He thought his sleepiness was due to a thyroid problem, a condition shared by some family members. Steve was shocked to learn he had type 2 diabetes. Caused by the body's inability to produce or use insulin, diabetes increases the risk for stroke, blindness, kidney damage, and other serious problems. Steve's doctor prescribed metformin, a pill to help control blood sugar. He also told Steve to change his diet and go to a diabetes education group. Steve started a diet with more meat and fewer carbohydrates, which helped him lose weight. But the diet also caused Steve's blood pressure and "bad" cholesterol levels to rise, so he needed more medicine. Meanwhile, Steve could not find a diabetes education group near his work. Steve knew he needed more information. He began to learn about and compare his treatment options. He visited the American Diabetes Association Web site.  He read how different diabetes medicines work. He found a different one that worked better. Today, Steve's diabetes is well under control. He recently finished a 100-mile bike ride! Annie Randolph, who got her high blood pressure  under control after two hospital visits, also explored her treatment options. When she was first diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1991, Annie wasn't told how serious it could be. If untreated, high blood pressure can cause strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Annie also didn't know that it is called the "silent killer" because some people have no symptoms. Her first real scare came when she didn't feel well and went to her doctor's office. Her blood pressure level was so dangerously high, Annie's doctor sent her to the hospital right away. After she went home, her doctor prescribed medicines, but Annie admits she did not take them properly. Then she stopped taking her medicines. After a second stay in the hospital, Annie got serious. She learned more about high blood pressure and different treatment options. Working with her doctor, Annie found the right combination of medicines. She also exercises, now that she knows how important that is to keep her blood pressure under control. In addition to patient stories, AHRQ's information on treatment options includes: Tips to help you talk with your doctor. An interactive tool to help you and your doctor understand your health priorities. Easy-to-understand patient guides about diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health conditions, with lists of benefits and harms of different treatment options. A glossary of medical terms. Today, we have more options than ever before to treat many diseases and conditions. By learning your options, you can find ways to feel better—and live better. I'm Dr. Carolyn Clancy, and that's my advice on how to navigate the health care system. Resources Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Explore Your Treatment Options http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/options/ Effective Health Care  http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/ American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/  American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/About-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002050_Article.jsp  Current as of August 2011