Getting more physically fit may help reduce risk of dying prematurely. Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, followed 10,854 men and women (average age, 54) who had completed two doctor-ordered exercise stress tests at least 12 months apart. Starting at a low fitness level but improving to an intermediate or high fitness level by the second test was associated with a 40% lower risk of dying over the next nine years, compared to being at a low fitness level at both tests. Improving fitness is a gradual process. Check with your doctor if you have a health concern, and then devote time to exercise daily. The study was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
To learn more: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, March 2017