
Exercise people don’t give enough credit reduces ‘early death’ by up to 17%
While physical activities are necessary for overall well-being, certain types of exercises are shown to have specific benefits, including longevity.
In addition to a healthy diet and a sound mind, incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine results in a quality life. Some forms of workout help you achieve your dream body, while others let you live longer.

One form of exercise for a healthy and longer life
Fitness freaks have discovered plenty of exercises to stay in shape. However, it’s the more traditional forms of workouts that are shown to contribute to a longer life.
A study led by the University of South Australia in April 2024 found that cardio exercises which most people underestimate, can significantly reduce your risk of death by any cause.
Therefore, indulging in exercises such as swimming, cycling, and running regularly is key to a long and healthy life, in addition to other lifestyle habits that contribute to longevity.
The study analyzed data from more than 20.9 million observations from 199 unique cohort studies to establish the link between cardiovascular fitness and health outcomes among adults, writes Science Daily.
While emphasizing the multiple health benefits of cardiorespiratory fitness, senior author Grant Tomkinson said:
“In this study, we found prolonged cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly and consistently associated with all types of premature death and incident disease — spanning heart failure, depression, diabetes, dementia, and even cancer.”
It reduces heart disease by 18%
Aside from reducing the risk of death and other critical illnesses by up to 17%, cardio exercise is specifically beneficial to heart health, reducing early death from heart failure by 18%.
The researchers simplify the findings of their study by saying: “If you do a lot of ‘huff and puff’ exercise, then your risk of dying early or developing diseases in the future is reduced. If you avoid exercise your health may suffer.”
If you can’t take up any of the intense cardiorespiratory fitness due to age or health issues, you can always benefit from other long-term physical activities, such as brisk walking at least 150 minutes a week.