I read with interest this week that the benefits of endurance
exercise can be felt no matter how young or old you are. Adults who start running
or cycling past the age of 40 feel the same health effects as those who start
before 30, new research says.
I'm glad to hear that. Although I've exercised sporadically
since leaving school, I wouldn't say it's ever reached the level of 'consistent',
so now I know I haven't left it too late if I did want to give my fitness a
boost.
In the study, David Matelot of the Inserm 1099 unit in
Rennes, France, looked at 40 healthy men aged 55 to 70 years, with no heart
problems. The men had done various levels of exercise previously - ten had
never exercised for more than two hours a week, and 30 had done "relatively
intensive" endurance exercise for at least seven hours a week for over
five years. This second group were divided into those who began regular
exercise before 30 or after 40.
Resting heart rate was similar in the two exercise groups,
but noticeably faster in the non-exercising men. "Maximal oxygen uptake"
- oxygen consumption on a treadmill test - was also similar in the two
exercise groups, and significantly lower in the non-exercising men. Heart scans
showed stronger heart muscles in the exercising men.
These measurements are important, said Matelot,
"because they are related to cardiovascular health and wellbeing." He
added, "despite biological chan
ges with age, the heart still seems, even at the age of 40, amenable to modification by endurance training."
ges with age, the heart still seems, even at the age of 40, amenable to modification by endurance training."
But he pointed out that endurance training also helps the
bones and muscles stay strong, so the earlier we start the better. "But
it's never too late to change your way of life and get more physically
active," said Matelot.
Good news!
by Kate Richards
Matelot, D. et al. Cardiac benefits of endurance training:
40 years old is not too late to start. Presented at the annual meeting of the
European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, held in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands, on 8 to 10 May 2014
Interesting post! Being physically fit or active in our daily lifestyle helps many of the body’s systems function better, keeps heart disease and diabetes.
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