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Inactive Lifestyle Linked to Ozone-Related Lung Disease

  • December 07, 2016

A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology — Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology shows a link between an inactive lifestyle and the risk of environmentally induced asthma symptoms, Science Daily reports. While the study was done in rats, it shows the importance of how exercise can mediate environmental risks to our health.

Close to 80 percent of U.S. adults do not get enough exercise, even though study after study has shown that exercise boosts brain health by raising levels of potent brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress. It’s also linked to lower rates of depression and Alzheimer’s disease along with improved memory, and helps you recover from chronic health conditions, including osteoarthritis, stroke and cancer.

Exercise can also make you look and feel younger in a number of ways, including making your body more flexible, helping you sleep better and lowering your risk of chronic disease.

The good news is it’s never too late to begin an exercise program — my own mother didn’t begin strength training until she was 74, and you can do it, too. No matter what your age or strength ability, there is a beginner’s exercise program that will fit your needs.

All you have to do is get moving and keep moving for best results. To get the most out of your workouts, I recommend a comprehensive program that includes high-intensity interval exercise, strength training (especially super slow workouts), stretching and core work, along with walking about 10,000 steps a day.