Midlife cardiorespiratory fitness and long-term risk of mortality

-

Midlife cardiorespiratory fitness and long-term risk of mortality

Background

Having good cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is known to help people live longer. However, the exact link between CRF and life expectancy isn’t completely clear.

Objectives

This study looked at how CRF affects life expectancy in middle-aged men who are employed and do not have heart disease.

Methods

The study involved 5,107 men with an average age of 48.8 years. Participants were divided into four groups based on their CRF levels:

  • Below the normal range
  • Low normal
  • High normal
  • Above the normal range

Their CRF was measured using a bicycle exercise test.

Results

Over 46 years of follow-up:

  • 4,700 men (92%) passed away, with 2,149 (42.1%) dying from heart disease.

When comparing the different CRF groups:

  • The low normal group lived 2.1 years longer than the lowest group.
  • The high normal group lived 2.9 years longer than the lowest group.
  • The above normal group had the longest life expectancy, living 4.9 years longer than all other groups.

Moreover, for each unit increase in CRF, there was an associated 45-day increase in life expectancy.

Conclusion

This study found that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are strongly linked to longer life in middle-aged men without heart disease. The benefits of being fit in midlife can help people enjoy a longer life later on.

The research also revealed each unit increase in VO2max was associated with a 45-day increase in longevity. This means that higher cardiovascular fitness levels added more years to a man’s life! 📈🌟

Trainer recommendations

  • Get in touch and allow us to assess your fitness. It just might add years to your life and life to your steps. 📅
  • Register now for your own VO2 max fitness assessment.

Watch

Check out this engaging video that walks you through the exciting process of assessing your VO2 max fitness.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Squatting knees over toes

-
Image
Debunking a popular myth For many years one of the primary cues given when teaching a squat was to keep the knees behind the toes because of the increased shear force it created on the knees. Is that still true? Will your knees explode if they pass the toes? Is it safe? Yes, having your knees past your toes while squatting is safe.   This common myth has been proven wrong by research in recent years. While the knees moving forward does increase the horizontal force at the knee, limiting the forward movement of the knees can put more stress on the lower back and increase the risk of injury. Limiting the forward movement of the knees during squats can increase the risk of injury because it can cause a compensatory movement pattern, such as improved trunk flexion, that puts more stress on other areas of the body, such as the lower back or the hips. When the knees cannot move forward, the hips and lower back must compensate by taking on more load. This can lead to poor form and increas...
Read more

Functional fitness to help you stay at your best longer

-
Image
Effects of Functional Strength Training on Functional Movement and Balance in Middle-Aged Adults Introduction: As we get older, our strength often decreases due to changes in our nervous system and loss of muscle tone, making daily activities harder. However, strength training can help by: Reducing the effects of aging on the neuromuscular system. Decreasing body fat. Maintaining muscle mass, bone density, and muscle strength. Traditional vs. Functional Strength Training: Traditional strength training (TST) builds muscle size and strength but doesn't always improve our ability to perform everyday tasks. Functional strength training (FST), on the other hand, focuses on enhancing strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination to improve daily activities. FST is gaining popularity among athletes, middle-aged adults, older individuals, and cardiac patients because it improves health, aids in weight control, and enhances the ability to perform daily tasks. Study Overview: This study u...
Read more

Do masks affect exercise?

-
Image
By Adam Toffan, M.Sc, NSCA-CSCS,  CSEP-CEP , Assistant Fitness Training and Assessment Coordinator, UM Recreation Services Aside from potential discomfort, does wearing a mask affect our exercise? That is the question I want to cover this week — and recent studies are shedding more light on the subject. Wearing a mask is a recommended way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Studies show that medical-grade masks and unvented N95 masks reduce aerosol particle emission from the wearer by 90 and 74 percent, respectively. (The efficacy of cloth masks was less clear.) Data from the American Society for Microbiology shows that cotton, surgical, and N95 masks protect against droplet spread, with higher protection when masks were worn by virus spreaders. As expected, N95 and other respirator masks were most effective, but cloth face coverings did have some benefit. Since mask use became mandated (including donning a mask while exercising in gyms), some people have raised concerns of potential...
Read more