Study – Men with Muscles Live Longer
Everyone agrees that aerobic exercise leads to good cardiovascular health. It’s common for healthcare providers to emphasize the benefits of cardiorespiratory fitness, but a new study shows that men with increased muscular strength are likely to live longer. The study was presented at the American College of Sports Medicine 55th Annual Meeting. Senior investigator Jonatan R. Ruiz, PhD, from the unit for preventive nutrition at the department of biosciences and nutrition at Novum, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden, says, “These findings prove the benefits of having greater muscular strength and thus require further research to confirm the combined effects of strength and CRF”(cardio respiratory fitness).
The research was performed between 1980 and 1989, and included 8762 men who were tested for muscular strength and cardio respiratory fitness. Mortality rates were determined December 31, 2003. The men with decreased muscular strength had a 60% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Dr. Ruiz, “This study examines the association between muscular strength and mortality. Other studies used a single measure of muscular strength, but ours used 2 tests,” he said. “Muscular strength and CRF combine to provide protective effects against all-cause mortality in men.”
The outcome seen is different when compared to other studies that measure the effects of physical fitness and activity alone, warranting further studies about the benefits of staying strong. It challenges the concept that walking and regular physical activity are the best for prevention of heart disease and increasing longevity.
You can start by incorporating weight or resistance training into your daily routine. The benefits of maintaining or improving muscle strength extend beyond the risk of dying from all causes. Improved muscle strength helps everyone maintain independence and prevents disability from injuries. Improved strength allows us to maintain quality of life into our senior years.
Speak with your doctor before engaging in any new exercise activity. You can read more about resistance training and the benefits, as well as recommendations from the American Heart Association here.
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Posted by Kathleen, RN
