Study: Vigorous Workouts Extend Lifespan

When you step onto the treadmill, do you have a target number for your heart rate?

Most people strive to work out at a high intensity to burn as many calories as they can to lose weight.

Apparently the benefits don’t end there.

A new study suggests that vigorous workouts may help you live longer.

After following cyclists in Denmark, researchers found that men who cycled at a high intensity lived 5.3 years longer. Women lived nearly 4 years longer.

The findings were recently presented in August at the European Society of Cardiology annual meeting in Paris.

Current guidelines suggest every adult should exercise for 2 hours and 30 minutes every week at a moderate pace such as brisk walking.

But this study, according to the researchers, “suggests that a greater part of the daily physical activity in leisure time should be vigorous, based on the individuals own perception of intensity.”

To stay safe, consult a personal trainer to determine your target heart rate. And always listen to your body.

Alice Warchol is a fitness instructor and freelance health writer.

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