High Air Pollution Could Diminish Exercise Benefits by 50%, Study Finds

12 days ago

Copy Link

Exercise lowers the risk of heart disease, cancer, and early death.
A new study suggests polluted air may reduce the benefits of exercise.
Researchers analyzed health data from over 1.5 million adults across multiple countries.
Focus was on PM2.5 particles, which can cause inflammation and long-term damage.
Exercise reduced death risk by 30% in less polluted areas but only 12-15% in highly polluted areas.
In regions with PM2.5 above 35 μg/m³, exercise offered even less protection, especially against cancer deaths.
The study emphasizes that exercise remains beneficial but improving air quality enhances health gains.
Toxic air can partially block exercise benefits but doesn’t eliminate them.
Clean air and physical activity are both crucial for healthy aging.
The study acknowledges limitations, including data mostly from high-income countries and lack of indoor air quality data.
Recommendations include checking air quality and choosing cleaner routes for outdoor exercise.
The study highlights the serious global problem of air pollution and its impact on health.
The study was published in BMC Medicine.

Hasty Briefsbeta