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Exercise Is
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B6 March 27 • 2008
magine if scientists could develop
a prescription drug that prevent-
ed and treated dozens of chronic
diseases, such as heart disease, stroke,
diabetes, cancer and obesity. The pre-
scription would benefit anyone who
takes it. Side effects would include
healthy bones, muscles and
joints, psychological well-
being and reduced stress.
My guess is that most
people would take such
a prescription. The good
news is that this wonder
"drug" already exists — it's
called exercise.
Exercise protects against
heart disease by helping the
heart work more efficiently,
reducing blood pressure,
raising HDL (good) choles-
terol, decreasing the forma-
tion of blood clots and helping people
maintain a healthy weight. Sedentary
people who begin a regular program
of exercise reduce their risk of a heart
attack by 35 to 55 percent.
Despite the proven benefits of
exercise, more than half of American
adults do not get enough physical
activity to provide health benefits.
Cars, elevators, remote controls and
other modern devices all help to
engineer physical activity out of
daily life. Extended workdays and
long commutes add to the problem.
Insufficient physical activity is not
limited to adults. More than a third of
high school students do not regularly
engage in vigorous-intensity physical
activity; daily participation in physical
education classes has dropped dra-
matically.
It is clear that our nation needs to
shape up. A new collaboration between
the American Medical Association
(AMA) and the American College of
Sports Medicine (ACSM) intends to
help make this happen. The Exercise
is Medicine initiative is a shared
vision of the AMA and ACSM to help
improve the health and well-being of
Americans through a regular physical
activity prescription from physicians
and other healthcare providers. Nearly
30 organizations are involved with the
exercise initiative, which was unveiled
with a big news media splash last
November.
The Exercise is Medicine Web site
(www.exerciseismedicine.org ) makes
tools, training and referral mecha-
nisms available for physicians and
other healthcare providers. It also pro-
vides helpful resources for policy mak-
ers and advocates as well as
for the general public. The
Detroit-based Henry Ford
Health System will be draw-
ing upon these resources
as they convene their own
Exercise is Medicine work-
ing group in order to be a
leader in this important
initiative.
According to the World
Health Organization, one
of the major challenges
in the prevention of non-
infectious diseases and in
the promotion of physical activity
and other healthy lifestyle choices is
communicating the importance of
taking action now in return for future
benefits. Despite the fact that preven-
tion has been the major contributor to
health gains, including 30 added years
of life expectancy in the past century,
most studies of health expenditures
indicate that less than 5 percent of
resources are devoted to prevention.
Exercise is not just an option; it's a
necessary and direct way for all of
us to maintain good health, avoid ill-
ness, improve the quality of our lives,
reduce health care costs and extend
life expectancy.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
"The first wealth is health."
Let us invest our time and money
wisely. Just 30 minutes of exercise
per day can help prevent and treat
numerous chronic conditions. Talk
with your physician about the best
exercise plan for you, and make
physical activity part of your life and
healthcare plan.
❑
Sharon Milberger, Sc.D., is associate direc-
tor for research at Henry Ford Health
System's Center for Health Promotion and
Disease Prevention in Detroit. Dr. Milberger
is a member of the Exercise is Medicine
Task Force. She lives in Farmington Hills.
Her e-mail address is: smilberl@hfhs.org .