To Exercise of Not to Exercise

Walking Daily is Life Saving

There is a strong association between exercise and good physical health. Association does not imply cause. "Some things are horses and some things are carts," says George Vaillant. We might be wrong to assume that exercise is a horse.

In the Grant study, earlier good health was a good predictor of exercise at every older age. Good health at 55, was a good predictor of exercise at 60, and again at 80.

In contrast, those who were exercising at 60, correlated less well with both good health at 80 and exercise at 80. A habit of exercise throughout one's life, is helpful, but it's only significant, it's not a strong driver. In contrast, at every age good health predicts future exercise.

Before 1960, most people led quite active lives both at work and in personal activity. They didn't need to go to the gym. Doctors have been quite conservative in recommending exercise. They know that people can exercise and also be very unhealthy. But the reverse is never true, many people who are very healthy do not exercise. If Vaillant is right, these are the people who are likely to take up exercise in future.

The American NFL, give evidence of that. Players who are big people have and advantage if they are also fit. Too many successful NFL players, on retirement become very obese and die early, some before the age of 50. They were fit but not healthy.

There is value in exercise. Exercise, helps the body maintain homeostasis. Those who spend little time sitting each day have lower c-reactive protein markers. Exercise does do micro-cellular damage that causes inflammation. That mobilizes macrophage's to clean up the damaged tissues, and red blood cells, white blood cells, stem cells and platelets then repair the damage. The muscle gets bigger and stronger. Exercise also produces protective substances called cytokines like interleukin-6 which is anti-inflammatory when produced by muscle tissues.

Englishman, Prof. Jeremy Morris, studied bus drivers v ticket collectors, and postal workers comparing the postmen v office staff. His research demonstrated the exercise was protective against CVD. Morris said, "Exercise is the best buy in public health." He took up exercise himself, swimming, cycling and walking. He died at 99.

Prof. Ralph Paffenbarger in the USA, studied college alumni, and San Francisco Longshoremen. He came to the same conclusion, exercise had a powerful protective effect for one's health. At 45 Paffenbarger began to run marathons, he stopped running at 71. Five 100 mile runs and 151 marathons to his credit. He died at 84.

John Stephen Veitch