Blog 2: Webliography
Physical Activity and Disease Prevention:
Physical activity has been known for decades to be beneficial for optimal health for all ages. Physicians have recommended 20-30 minutes of exercise daily to maintain proper cardiac function. Within the last 2 decades physical activity in relation to prevention of chronic diseases has come to the forefront due to the rise in illnesses such as diabetes and certain cancers.
There are research data that correlates the reduction in the incidence of colon cancer, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Risk reduction due to exercise is “75% for breast cancer, 49% for cardiovascular and heart disease, 35% for diabetes, 22% for colorectal cancer” (J. Kruk, 2007). ” On average people who are physically active outlive those who are inactive” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2002). In addition to the physical benefits there are economic consequences associated with a sedentary lifestyle. According to the National Institute of Health the financial costs due to the cost of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis is over $500 billion. These chronic conditions which are known to be improved with physical activity cost the Medicare and Medicaid system over $84 billion annually ( U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002).
I have seen the consequences of inactivity and how certain chronic illnesses could have been prevented by daily exercise. The message is not sinking in and as medical personnel it is important that we get the facts to the patients and present exercise as a lifestyle choice. Perhaps we can have pamphlets that we hand out to patients as we do with smoking cessation that have statistical data on the benefits of exercise in relation to disease prevention as well as easy exercise options that can be done at home. I believe physical activity not only benefits us physically but mentally as well. In order to control health care costs it is essential that our society become more active.
Some useful websites and articles that support the data as well as exercise programs.
Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity
This site is the main government website that is directly related to protecting the health of Americans. This page is a journal article presented by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation that is a comprehensive statistical study that supports evidence of disease prevention and physical activity.
Physical activity in the prevention of the most frequent chronic diseases: and analysis of the recent evidence.
http://ncbi.nlm.hih.gov/pbmed/19069254
A government website for the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health. This report supports data related to physical activity and chronic disease prevention. This specific article was published by the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. This site is health and medical related research based journal articles.
http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188237,00.html
This page has resources specific to diet, exercise and health related information. There are links to specific diseases, latest health news and nutrition. In addition it has specific exercises for optimal heart health.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/fag/exercise.htm
This web page is the official site of the Centers for Disease Control and frequently asked questions. There are links to health topics from A-Z. This specific page is Diabetes Public Health Resource. There are links for diet, exercise, and specific information correlating exercise with diabetic control.
This page is a good resource for general medical knowledge questions with links to diseases, signs and symptoms, procedures and tests, medicines and medical terms. This site offers the benefits of aerobic exercise and health and fitness, types of exercises and exercise programs.
Health and Wellness Resource Center: Research Database
Staying Healthy from the faculty of Harvard Medical School, February 14, 2007
This article provides date supporting exercise and diet in disease prevention.
CINAHL: Research Database
Physical activity prescription: our best medicine
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal Oct.-Nov. 2007
This article summarizes how physical activity can prevent and treat common chronic diseases.
Physical activity to combat chronic diseases and escalating health care costs: the unfilled prescription.
Current Sports Medicine Reports, May-June 2008
This article supports research on prevention of chronic diseases through exercise and health care costs related to such diseases.
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