We all know that exercise is good for us. It’s pretty well known that physical activity leads to improvements in cardiovascular health. Taking it one step further, studies have shown improvements in all-cause mortality from engaging in physical activity. High-intensity exercise provides greater health benefits compared to low-intensity exercise.

Stronger people are harder to kill.

A study in 2018 by Mandsager et al found that cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely associated with all-cause mortality. This means that the more fit the participants were, the more likely they were to live healthier and longer. They went on to say in the article that “extreme cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with the lowest risk-adjusted all-cause mortality compared with all other performance groups.

A study in 2014 by Kraigher-Krainer et al showed that lower levels of physical activity were related to higher risks of heart failure and vice versa.

Wisloff et al published a study in 2007 that looked at exercise intensity and cardiac health. Higher intensities of physical activities showed significantly better measures of aerobic capacity, endothelial function, and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Ciolac in 2012 found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) was more effective in preventing and controlling hypertension compared to continuous moderate-intensity training (CMT).

I have linked full-texts for each of the above articles. If you have some time and appreciate reading the full details of the studies, click on the links above.

There’s no denying it. Stronger people are harder to kill. High-intensity training beats out moderate- and low-intensity training. If you have pre-existing conditions, you will want to be cleared from a physician and a physical therapist to begin training at higher intensities. If you don’t have any pre-existing conditions, keep it that way by staying active!

Stay healthy, my friends.

Corey Hall, PT, DPT