A new study published in the European Heart Journal reveals that vigorous physical activity significantly lowers the risk of developing eight major chronic diseases. Researchers analyzed data from over 472,000 participants in the UK Biobank, tracking activity levels and health outcomes over seven years.
The findings show that people with the highest levels of vigorous activity had a 63% lower risk of dementia, 60% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 46% lower risk of death compared to those with no vigorous exercise. Benefits were evident even with just a few minutes of high-intensity activity per day.
The diseases protected against include major cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, chronic respiratory and kidney diseases, dementia, and certain cancers. Experts explain that vigorous exercise improves heart efficiency, relaxes blood vessels, and enhances overall bodily system function.
Vigorous exercise includes activities like running, fast cycling, or singles tennis, where breathing becomes hard and fast. Health professionals recommend incorporating short bursts of high-intensity effort into existing routines to reap these protective benefits.