Exercise extends your life

Running for two at the Twin Cities Marathon

An article, Want to live longer? Better get moving (StarTribune), describes how a large study found that people's lives could be extended through regular exercise. Just by regularly incorporating moderate exercise one's life on average extends one life by 3.5 years.  For those willing to put in about an hour's worth of daily exercise life expectancy is extended to 4.2 years.

It was suggested that exercise might even be an even more important factor in longevity than one's weight. A couple of the most significant risk factors that exercise impacts are cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

One thing that this article didn't mention, that I think is just as noteworthy, is the enhanced quality of life that comes with exercise.  Not only is the duration of one's life extended, so is the quality. Following are some additional benefits of exercise:

Wheelchair Racers

• Exercise helps you sleep.  Regular exercise can help you get to sleep and improve the quality of your sleep.  Just be careful not to exercise too close to bedtime.

• Strengthening bones is a key benefit of exercise.  Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking and weight training, are especially helpful for maintaining healthy bones.

• Exercise can boost your energy and self-esteem.  Far from making you tired, regular exercise can improve your stamina, mood and confidence.