Exercise is as good as heart drugs for treating heart disease says the British Medical Journal

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Exercise is as good as heart drugs for treating heart disease says the British Medical Journal

A recent study in the British Medical Journal suggests that non-medical behavioral and lifestyle changes which include exercise is as beneficial or more beneficial than heart medications. While we have known that exercise for the body is important, here is more evidence suggesting that there is a long term benefit that will improve the quality of life while decreasing the need for expensive heart medications.

The trend for large companies is to give their employees pedometers so they get more exercise, lose weight, and become more physically fit. There must be a benefit to them as these policies seem to have a direct effect on their cost for insuring their employees. Companies like Brother International, Johnson and Johnson, and others have programs such as these, while companies like Bristol Meyers Squibb as well as J and J have full gyms that their employees are encouraged to use regularly.

Years ago, when we worked in the fields, people were more physically fit naturally. In today’s society, we find ourselves often sitting, talking or standing rather than moving.

Read more about this study here;

Exercise May Be as Effective as Drugs in Treating Disease

By Makiko Kitamura – Oct 2, 2013 4:58 AM ET

Physical activity may be as effective as drugs in treating heart disease and should be included as a comparison in the development of new medicines, according to a review published today in the British Medical Journal.

No statistically detectable differences were evident between exercise and drug treatment for patients with coronary heart disease or prediabetes, and exercise was more effective among patients recovering from a stroke, according to a review of 16 meta-analyses that included 305 studies involving 339,274 participants. The review was conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University.

The analysis adds to evidence showing the benefit of non-medical approaches to disease through behavior and lifestyle changes. Given the cost of drug treatment, regulators should consider requiring pharmaceutical companies to include exercise as a comparator in clinical trials of new medicines, according to authors Huseyin Naci of Harvard and John Ioannidis of Stanford.

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