Health Correlator: Heavy physical activity may significantly reduce heart disease deaths, especially after age 45
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The idea that heavy physical activity is a main trigger of heart attacks
is widespread. Often endurance running and cardio-type activities are
singled out. Some people refer to this as “death by running”. Others
think that strength training has a higher lethal potential. We know
based on the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study that this is a myth (1)
Here is some evidence that heavy physical activity in fact has a
significant protective effect. The graph below shows the number of
deaths from coronary heart disease, organized by age group, in
longshoremen (dock workers). The shaded bars represent those whose level
of activity at work was considered heavy. The unshaded bars represent
those whose level of activity at work was considered moderate or light
(essentially below the “heavy” level).
The data is based on an old and classic study of 6351 men, aged 35 to 74
years, who were followed either for 22 years, or to death, or to the
age of 75. It shows a significant protective effect of heavy activity,
especially after age 45 (2).
The numbers atop the unshaded bars reflect the relative risk of death
from coronary heart disease in each age group. For example, in the age
group 65-74, the risk among those not in the heavy activity group is 110
percent higher (2.1 times higher) than in the heavy activity group.
It should be noted that this is a cumulative effect, of years of heavy
activity. Based on the description of the types of activities performed,
and the calories spent, I estimate that the heavy activity group
performed the equivalent of a few hours of strength training per week,
plus a lot of walking and other light physical activities. The authors
of the study concluded that “… repeated bursts of high energy output established
a plateau of protection against coronary mortality.”
Heavy physical activity may not make you lose much weight, but has the potential to make you live longer.
is widespread. Often endurance running and cardio-type activities are
singled out. Some people refer to this as “death by running”. Others
think that strength training has a higher lethal potential. We know
based on the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study that this is a myth (1)
Here is some evidence that heavy physical activity in fact has a
significant protective effect. The graph below shows the number of
deaths from coronary heart disease, organized by age group, in
longshoremen (dock workers). The shaded bars represent those whose level
of activity at work was considered heavy. The unshaded bars represent
those whose level of activity at work was considered moderate or light
(essentially below the “heavy” level).
The data is based on an old and classic study of 6351 men, aged 35 to 74
years, who were followed either for 22 years, or to death, or to the
age of 75. It shows a significant protective effect of heavy activity,
especially after age 45 (2).
The numbers atop the unshaded bars reflect the relative risk of death
from coronary heart disease in each age group. For example, in the age
group 65-74, the risk among those not in the heavy activity group is 110
percent higher (2.1 times higher) than in the heavy activity group.
It should be noted that this is a cumulative effect, of years of heavy
activity. Based on the description of the types of activities performed,
and the calories spent, I estimate that the heavy activity group
performed the equivalent of a few hours of strength training per week,
plus a lot of walking and other light physical activities. The authors
of the study concluded that “… repeated bursts of high energy output established
a plateau of protection against coronary mortality.”
Heavy physical activity may not make you lose much weight, but has the potential to make you live longer.
