Just 2.5 Hours Of Exercise Can Lower Risk of Death
I don’t know about you, but my motivation to exercise seems to go up and down over periods of time. Some years, I’ve run 5 miles a day 7 days a week, and during other periods (like right now) I just get in one 4 mile run a week.
Sometimes I wonder where my motivation goes. The yearly doctors visit motivate me, and my weight creeping up is an absolute motivator.
However, my latest motivation is a new study from the American Heart Association. The research has found just 2.5 hours of exercise a week can lower risk of death.
Yeah, “lower risk of death” can sure be a motivator!
The study found that exercising for two and a half hours or more a week can dramatically lower the risk of death.
Two to four hours of moderate exercise each week was shown to reduce cardiovascular-related deaths by 40% and deaths of all causes by 30%.
Current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that adults engage in 2.5 to five hours per week of moderate activity or 75-100 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity.
Those who met the recommendations for either vigorous or moderate activity had a 20% lower risk of death.
What is your favorite form of exercise?
For me it’s been running, but at this point in my life, my knees may not agree.
So it’s time to tune up the bike and go for rides on the great trails in our area.
Two of my favorites are the JAM Trail from Wilmington to New Castle and the Chester Creek Trail in Middletown and Aston PA.
In future articles, I’ll write reviews on what makes these trails and others in our area so special.
So, in the meantime, get your 2.5 hours of cardio in! I’ll see you out there!