Older coronary heart disease patients who became physically active after age 60 were 45% less likely to die during the following seven years than their peers who remained sedentary. European Society of Cardiology, August 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of endurance athletes and non-athletes revealed that athletes are less sensitive to painful stimuli, and the brains of the two groups respond differently to heat stress. Human Brain Mapping, September 2021

Swim England notes that swimming offers the following benefits: provides a full-body workout, great for general wellbeing, helps de-stress and relax, helps burn calories, lowers the risk of for several chronic diseases, helps increases energy levels, and it can be done without sweating. Swim England, August 2021

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a medical device that is placed under the skin to correct cardiac arrhythmias. A review of data concerning nearly 42,000 ICD patients showed that those who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program were 24% less likely to die in the three years following the implantation of their device. Circulation:…

Epigenetic marks are chemical modifications that serve as on/off switches for many genes. In a recent study, researchers observed that participating in a six-week endurance exercise program stimulated epigenetic changes to genes normally associated with increased risk for disease. Molecular Metabolism, July 2021

Past research has shown that exercise can protect against depression. An analysis of data from the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys showed that including two or more types of exercise into one’s physical fitness routine can offer even more protection from depressive symptoms. Scientific Reports, August 2021

Using data from two ongoing studies, researchers report that individuals living in neighborhoods that are more conducive to pedestrian traffic and have greater access to parks are less likely to have high blood pressure than those residing in areas with less greenspace and reduced walkability. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, August 2021

A recent literature review found that for coronary heart disease patients with co-occurring depression, exercise may be a more effective tool for managing depression than antidepressants, psychotherapy, combined psychotherapy and antidepressants, and collaborative care. Study author Dr. Frank Doyle explains, “Our findings further highlight the clinical importance of exercise as a treatment as we see…

To reduce one’s risk for getting hurt when starting an exercise program, experts recommend the following: get a routine physical, hire a personal trainer, start slowly and increase gradually, warm up before exercise, wear appropriate clothing, and listen to your body. VerywellFit, April 2021

According to researchers, the belief that it takes longer for muscles to recover from working out as you age is based on little, if any, evidence. In fact, researcher Dr. John Fernandes notes, “[More] than half of the available studies have noted that older males experience similar, and even less severe, symptoms of muscle damage…