Lifestyle Matters!

A 40 year community-based effort in a rural Maine (U.S.) county to help residents control elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, stop smoking, eat healthfully, and exercise more appears to have yielded significant benefits. Compared with other counties in the same state, Franklin's residents have lower mortality rates and fewer hospitalizations resulting in savings of $5.4 million…

Fitness in Middle-age Improves Future Health

Middle-age cardiovascular fitness pays off handsomely over the next 26 years! Participants (19,000) with a mean age of 49 were assessed for baseline fitness and health, then followed for 26 years. The 20% in the highest fitness category experienced only half the prevalence of chronic conditions (i.e. ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabeties, COPD, lung and…