Midlife fitness lowers the risk of heart disease and depression, study states
| Updated: Jun 29, 2018, 14:13 IST
With the lifestyles we lead today, there's not much time left in the day for exercise. And this holds even more true for those in their middle ages. However, a new study states that people with high fitness during their middle ages are significantly less likely to die from heart diseases in later life even if they were diagnosed with depression. This study also includes a researcher of Indian-origin.
The study, published in the journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, found that participants with high fitness were 56 % less likely to die from heart diseases following a depression diagnosis. Now, most often than not, depression is linked with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease, but taking anti-depressants are likely to help. However, researchers from this study stress that exercise helps the most.
The researchers said that the reasons behind this may partly be connected to the general health effects of physical activity, including the fact that exercise decreases inflammation that may cause depression. By reducing inflammation, the risk for depression and heart diseases are lowered, the researchers mentioned. "The earlier you maintain fitness, the better chance of preventing depression, which in the long run will help lower the risk of heart diseases," said co-author Madhukar Trivedi from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in the US.
The study, published in the journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, found that participants with high fitness were 56 % less likely to die from heart diseases following a depression diagnosis. Now, most often than not, depression is linked with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity and chronic kidney disease, but taking anti-depressants are likely to help. However, researchers from this study stress that exercise helps the most.
The researchers said that the reasons behind this may partly be connected to the general health effects of physical activity, including the fact that exercise decreases inflammation that may cause depression. By reducing inflammation, the risk for depression and heart diseases are lowered, the researchers mentioned. "The earlier you maintain fitness, the better chance of preventing depression, which in the long run will help lower the risk of heart diseases," said co-author Madhukar Trivedi from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in the US.