Exercise is Medicine! (Part II)

Last week’s column examined the role that exercise can play in reducing and possibly eliminating the need for statins and blood pressure medication. We also discussed the positive effects of exercise for diabetics. This week, we will discuss the benefits of exercise vis-à-vis high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cancer.

High Blood Pressure

High Blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” since the symptoms sometimes do not appear until it is too late.  Hypertension – a very treatable condition – is prevalent in more than 20 % of the population. Another significant number of people have what is referred to as “high normal” or “borderline” blood pressure – that is, their readings fall slightly above the normal range and as such, they are now at risk for hypertension.

Drugs given for high blood pressure can have multiple side effects and some of them can be very pronounced.  Depending upon which drugs you are taking, you may experience any of the following:

• Asthma symptoms
• Cold hands and feet
• Depression
• Insomnia and sleep problems
• A dry, hacking cough that doesn’t go away.
• Skin rash and a loss of taste
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Irregular or very rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
• Swollen ankles
• Fast heart rate

Exercise can prevent or cure high blood pressure. An inactive person has a 20-50% higher risk of developing high blood pressure than an active person.  This statistic is based on studies performed at both Harvard University and the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research.  Even without weight loss, aerobic exercise can lower blood pressure by 10 points or more.  And one of the great things about exercising to reduce blood pressure is that one usually starts seeing results after only a few short weeks of starting a program.  An added bonus: as exercisers also tend to lose weight and concentrate on diet, results can go far beyond the 10 points mentioned above.

 High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all animal products.  The human body makes cholesterol in the liver and absorbs some of it through the diet.  It is essential for the body and is used to produce hormones, form bile acids for digestion of fats and to build cell membranes.  However, too much cholesterol in the blood can spell trouble in the form of increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Approximately 30% of Americans have high cholesterol.  Although Statin drugs are being prescribed today like candy is given out, they have multiple side effects and we are still NOT 100% SURE as to how effective they are in avoiding heart attacks.  Yes they lower your cholesterol, but they also can make you very uncomfortable with muscle pain, they can negatively affect your memory and they may raise your risk of diabetes.  So before you agree to take them, pay attention to the following:  In a study at Stanford University, male and female runners were found to have higher HDL levels than sedentary controls in the study.  Total cholesterol levels, LDL, and triglycerides were all found to be lower than the sedentary group.  And the greater distance and time the runners ran, the better their results.  As with blood pressure, the results of exercising usually included some weight loss as well, contributing even more to overall improvement.  In both of these cases, cholesterol, blood pressure AND the risk of cardiovascular disease were all lowered substantially with exercise.

Steps you can take which will usually lower your overall cholesterol, lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise your HDL (good cholesterol) include:

•  exercising
• losing weight
• eliminating smoking
• moderating alcohol consumption
• eating a healthful diet which includes fruits and vegetables

Even those with hereditary factors can see improvement by adopting the practices listed above.

Cancer

Research has shown that the lifetime risk for developing cancer is 45% in men and 39% in women.  However, according to the American Cancer Society, up to 2/3 of cancers are preventable.  There is also good news on the cancer treatment front.  In the 1930’s, fewer than one in five people were alive after five years of treatment for cancer, but today, more than 50% of  people getting treatment live five years or more afterwards, and these numbers are expected to continue to improve.

What exactly is cancer? All cancers can be characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can, G-d forbid, be fatal, as vital passageways are blocked and the body’s oxygen and nutrient supplies are diverted to support the rapidly- spreading cancer.  Normally, our body cells reproduce and divide in an orderly manner.  In that way, old cells are replaced and injured cells are repaired.  However, some cells undergo abnormal changes because of oxidants, radiation, viruses, hormones, immune conditions and inherited mutations.  It is these abnormal cells that grow into masses called tumors.  These tumors can be benign or cancerous.

Interesting to note is that it took the American Heart Association a long time to identify inactivity as a risk factor for heart disease. However, in 1996, the American Cancer Society added regular physical activity to their list of preventive measures.  Evidence continues to mount which strongly supports the connection between the development of cancer and inactivity.  According to Dr. I-Minn Lee of the Harvard School of Public Health, “Our findings now suggest that increased physical activity may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, especially colon cancer.”  More current research is showing beyond a doubt that:

• Physical activity may lower the risk of cancer by preventing obesity, reducing inflammation and hormone levels, and improving insulin resistance and immune system function.
• Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of several types of cancers, including breast cancer and colon cancer.

Although, we are speaking here of prevention and not curing cancer, cancer experts do encourage moderate exercise during treatment.

 Next week, we will look at osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and lower pack pain.