Staying active is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It helps keep your heart healthy, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy weight, among many other health benefits.

But did you know that your activity levels can also predict your risk of early death? In this article, we will explore how your activity levels can predict your risk of early death and how to increase your lifespan.

What is early death?

Early death is defined as death occurring before the age of 75 years. In most cases, early death is preventable, as it is caused by lifestyle factors such as a lack of physical activity or a poor diet.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 69 die each year due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The majority of these deaths can be prevented by making lifestyle changes, including increasing physical activity levels.

How does physical activity help prevent early death?

Physical activity has many health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Physical activity can also help control weight, reduce the risk of falls, and promote mental health.

The more physical activity you do, the greater the health benefit.

Physical activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of early death. A recent study published in The Lancet found that physical inactivity is responsible for approximately 6% of deaths worldwide.

The study also found that if everyone were to meet the WHO physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, it could prevent 7.6% of all deaths worldwide.

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How can you discover if you are in danger of an early death based on your activity levels?

One way to determine if you are in danger of an early death is to measure your activity levels.

The WHO recommends that adults aged 18-64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or a combination of both. In addition, adults should do muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.

To determine your activity levels, you can use an activity tracker or pedometer to count your steps or track your exercise. There are also applications that can help you track your activity levels and set goals for yourself.

What are the risks of low activity levels?

Physical inactivity is a major contributor to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. In addition, physical inactivity is associated with an increased risk of obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

These conditions can increase the risk of early death.

How can you increase your physical activity levels?

Increasing physical activity levels is essential to reducing the risk of early death and improving overall health. Here are some tips to help you increase your physical activity levels:.

1. Set realistic goals for yourself: Start with small and achievable goals, such as taking a 10-minute walk during your lunch break.
2. Make physical activity a part of your daily routine: Schedule physical activity into your day, just like you would schedule a meeting or appointment.
3. Find an activity that you enjoy: Whether it’s walking, dancing, or hiking, find an activity that you enjoy and that you can stick to.
4. Get a workout buddy: Having a workout buddy can help keep you motivated and accountable.
5. Mix it up: Incorporate a variety of activities into your routine to prevent boredom and keep things interesting.

Conclusion

Physical activity is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk of early death.

By measuring your activity levels and making small changes to your daily routine, you can significantly reduce your risk of chronic diseases and early death. Remember to set realistic goals for yourself, make physical activity a part of your daily routine, find an activity that you enjoy, get a workout buddy, and mix it up to keep things interesting.