[Health&Healing] Exercise Shields Against Parkinson's

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

Exercise Provides Shield Against Parkinson's

 

http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/12/exercise_parkinsons.htm

 

Weight loss is not the only benefit people gain from exercising.

Researchers found that men who exercised regularly and vigorously

early in their adult life lowered their risk for developing

Parkinson's disease when compared to men who did not.

 

What is Parkinson's disease? It is a progressive nervous system

disease that usually occurs after age 50. It destroys brain cells that

produce dopamine (a brain chemical) and is characterized by:

 

Rigidity

Muscular tremor

Postural instability

Slowing of movement

Uncovering the Parkinson's-Exercise Link

 

To determine the relationship between physical activity and

Parkinson's disease, researchers involved more than 48,000 men and

77,000 women--who were free of Parkinson's disease, cancer or

stroke--in a study. Participants completed comprehensive

questionnaires on disease, lifestyle practices and physical and

leisure time activities (beginning in 1986 and updated every two years

through 2000). Throughout the study, a total of 387 cases of

Parkinson's disease were diagnosed--252 men and 135 women.

 

The study showed:

 

The most physically active men at the start of the study lowered their

risk of developing Parkinson's disease by half, compared to men who

were least physically active

 

Men who reported engaging in regular physical activity in early adult

life lowered the risk for Parkinson's by 60 percent, compared to men

who did not

 

Women in the study who participated in strenuous activity in the early

adult years were also associated with a lowered risk of Parkinson's

(yet this link was not statistically significant and there was not

clear relationship between physical activity later in life and

Parkinson's risk)

 

Neurology February 22, 2005; 64(4): 664-9

 

Medical News Today February 22, 2005.

 

 

----

----------

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

You may remember a popular article I ran about the newest weapon--and

probably the healthiest--you can use to fight Parkinson's disease:

Exercise. Well, the article above provides additional confirmation of

the therapeutic benefits of exercise.

 

However, what concerns me is that most people, especially doctors,

don't tend to appreciate just how powerful exercise is.

 

The Exercise Drug

 

The way I see it: Exercise needs to be viewed like a drug. In other

words, you have to be very careful with the dosage--if the dose is not

high enough, it will not work.

 

It is important to set a goal of 60 to 90 minutes per day, every day.

Obviously, depending on your current condition, you may need to work

slowly up to this level. My experience is that weight-bearing

exercises, such as walking, jogging, running, Nordic Track and Health

Rider are better than cycling and swimming. If you have access to a

health club, my favorite piece of equipment there is the elliptical

machine.

 

It is also important to seek to include some strength training

exercise in your program in addition to the cardiovascular or aerobic

type training. This will complement your fitness and help provide a

well rounded structural frame that will improve your overall health. I

believe that aerobic fitness is a higher priority than strength

training, so if you only have time for one then do the cardio

exercises as that will impact your insulin levels the most. But it is

important to squeeze in twice-weekly strength training sessions if at

all possible.

 

However, one of the biggest obstacles faced by people who haven't

exercised in some time is how to get started. Just the thought of

starting an exercise program can be intimidating.

 

Therefore, whenever patients ask me what kind of activity is best to

get started, my answer is always the same: Walking is a wonderful way

to start exercising. It is very low impact so it is easy on the

joints, and humans have been getting exercise this way for thousands

of years. Most people find it is simple and enjoyable to fit a walk

into their day.

 

Walking doesn't require much training and the only equipment needed is

a good pair of walking shoes. You can walk just about anywhere and you

can do it anytime.

 

Why the Walking Workout?

 

If you are starting out in poor shape, slow-paced walking will produce

benefits, but if you are starting out in better condition, you will

need to walk faster and/or farther to see any results. Regardless of

your starting level, the more vigorous your walking pace, the more

dramatic the conditioning effects will be. When walking for exercise

you should walk at a steady pace that is fast enough to cause your

heart rate to raise.

 

Note: Don't be concerned that the above article prescribes vigorous

physical activity to prevent Parkinson's--as long as you are

exercising everyday that is certainly enough to get started.

Eventually though, you will work up to the point where you'll find you

can handle a regular, vigorous exercise program.

 

In my experience most people increase their fitness level relatively

rapidly while walking and the only way they can continue to stress

themselves enough while walking is to walk on a treadmill with an

incline.