Millani & Colleagues from Ochsner Clinic followed 522 cardiac patients who exercised for 12 weeks of aerobic cardiovascular exercise for 50 minutes 3 times a week.  The results are as follows:

-Physically fitter (cardiovascular fitness)

-60% less likely to die in 6 years

-lowered stress levels

Green & Colleagues from The National Institute On Aging studied exercise and brain function by studying mice.  They found:

-exercise increased the number of brain cells

-enabled the mice to perform better at spacial learning

-were able to tell the difference between different stimuli at different locations, more efficiently (discrimination)

– increase of brain cell growth in the hippocampus which is in the limbic/emotional center of the brain

Canadian researchers investigated exercise and sex hormones (estradiol, estrone, androstindione and testosterone) all which may have an impact on breast cancer.  320 post menopausal women 50 to 74 aerobically exercised 225 minutes/week.  Results were as follows:

-estradiol and free estradiol were reduced

-sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) increased

These findings were consistent with covering the risk of breast cancer in post menopausal women.

Kemmler from Freidrich -Alexander University & Colleagues analyzed data on 246 older women who exercised.  They found:

-increased density of bone in the spine & hip

-66% reduction in the rate of falls

-fractures were 2x more prevalent in the control group, compared to the exercise group

Herring & Colleagues from the University of Georgia analyzed data of 40 randomized clinical studies involving 3000 patients with chronic medical conditions (heart disease, MS, cancer, pain & arthritis).  Those who exercised were found to have a reduction in anxiety, with exercise of 12 weeks and 30 minutes.

Sattelmair and Colleagues at Harvard School of Public Health studied 39,315 healthy American women older than 45 and the effects of exercise over a 12 year period.  They found:

-a markedly lowered risk of stroke

-there was an inverse relationship between walking, time & pace and related risk of stroke, schemic stroke and hemohoragic stroke

-as much as a 37% reduction, in stroke risk as walking time & intensity increased from 2mph to 3mph

Qi Sun and Colleagues from Harvard School of Public Health studied exercise and improved health among women who had survived to older ages.  In 13,535 women from the nurses health study reported that with physical activity:

-a reduction in cardiovascular disease

-a reduction in heart surgery

-a reduction in any physical, cognitive or mental impairment

So get out there! Find a activity 3-5 x a week, of at least 50 minutes and enjoy the multiple benefits of exercise!!!

In Health & Service,

Dr. Roland Phillips BA, BS, D.C.