Minutes of vigorous activity a day might lower risk of death – Study

Washington, Jan 4 (Prensa Latina) Short bursts of intense activity several time a day, like climbing stairs, running for the bus or carrying heavy groceries, were linked to a significantly reduced risk of dying within seven years, a study found.

A team of researchers led by Emmanuel Stamatakis, scientist at the University of Sydney, Australia, found that just one to two minutes of such vigorous physical activity three to four times daily may reduce the risk of death by up to 40%.

These brief but vigorous actions also reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease, National Geographic cited.

To maximize health benefits, Stamatakis highly recommended to increase intensity of daily activities, while stressing that the health results of regularly exercising four or five times a week, for example, are obviously superior.

The impact of short bursts of high-intensity physical activity is also recognized by Edward Coyle, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas, who analyzed how these intense activities may counteract harmful effects of prolonged sitting.

After conducting an experiment in which young adults pedaled a stationary bike as fast as they could five times an hour for four-second sprints over an eight-hour period, Coyle´s team of scientists found this activity improved fat metabolism.

“I was surprised how effective these four-second bouts were. They’re just as effective as 30 minutes of continuous exercise,” Coyle said.

In their researches, experts concluded that people who did at least four daily sessions of high-intensity physical activity, lasting one to two minutes, had nearly a 40% lower risk of dying from cancer and a 49% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.