Study: exercise out-performs drugs in prevention of heart problems

It’s common to hear anecdotes about how runners don’t get sick as often, or have healthier hearts. That anecdote had been strengthened by a recent study in the British Medical Journal.

The massive study, which included 339,274 participants, set out to test the benefits of exercise compared to medical drugs on the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure rehabilitation, and the prevention of diabetes.

In the study of stroke and heart failure rehabilitation a prescription for regular exercise outperformed the drug-based alternatives.

The doctors who headed the study do not suggest ceasing medical treatment, but that a healthy dose of exercise should certainly be considered alongside drug-based rehabilitation for those recovering from heart complications.

The research suggests that “primary care doctors should give brief advice to most patients about the benefits of exercise and refer patients with chronic disease to a rehabilitation program that includes an exercise intervention.”

The study goes on to point out that, because of the lack of funding behind exercise-based rehabilitation and prevention methods, physicians can be left with a blind spot in prescribing drugs and, although they shouldn’t neglect proven and effective medications, doctors may do well to point out that there are alternatives.