VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 8 MARCH 2011 Never too late: Exercise helps late starters INSIDE Meat or beans: What will you he Industrial Revolution changed investigation, the men were evaluated five have? Part II: Beans ........4 America forever, and the Information times, at ages 50, 60, 70, 77, and 82. At each Beans are humble but nutritious— Era has changed it still further. More evaluation, the men submitted detailed and with a few tips, they can Tthan ever before, men are working with their information about their exercise, smoking, improve your diet and your health. brains instead of their backs. It’s great prog- and drinking habits, and the researchers Obesity: Unhealthy ress, but it does have unintended con- measured body height and weight, and unmanly .............6 sequences, including global economic blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and Gents who man-up and chow down competition and unprecedented lev- blood pressure. in the face of heart disease and els of stress. Another consequence is The researchers divided the men other well-publicized consequences of obesity may think again when it diminished physical activity. Now that into three groups based on their exer- comes to sexual dysfunction, most men don’t need to exercise to earn cise levels. At age 50, most of the prostate disease, and other their keep, many view exercise as kids’ stuff, men rated their own health as good, and maladies of men. the fun and games that fill childhood—or there was little difference in body mass index, On call ................8 used to in the days before video games and blood pressure, or cholesterol between the Screening for peripheral flat-screen TVs. low-, moderate-, and high-exercise groups, artery disease. America has become a nation of specta- but smoking was less prevalent in high- versus Testing is safe, easy, and inexpensive tors. That deprives men of the exercise that low-level exercisers (47% vs. 61%). Over or even free. But is it right for you? improves cholesterol levels, lowers blood the next 35 years, though, major differences In future issues sugar, burns away body fat, strengthens in health emerged. Most importantly, men Bladder cancer muscles and bones, improves mood and who were highly physically active at age 50 sleep, and protects against diabetes, demen- were 32% less likely to die during the study Beyond the coronary arteries: Possible benefits of statin drugs tia, certain cancers, and especially heart than those who were least active; moder- Acupuncture for ED? attacks and strokes. ately active men enjoyed a smaller, but still Men who stay physically active through- respectable, 13% lower death rate than the Abdominal aortic aneurysms out life reap these benefits and more. But least active gents. what about men who slide into sloth once The protective effect of regular exercise they’re too old for school sports? Can a late comes as no surprise. But the long-term start make up for years of sedentary living? nature of the Swedish study allowed the Second chances are rare in this life. But scientists to follow men who were sedentary when it comes to exercise, new research at age 50 but who increased their exercise WHAT’S New reinforces earlier studies that tell older men level between ages 50 and 60. For the first 2011 Annual Report on not to act their age. five years, the major result was disappoint- Prostate Diseases ment, since these men continued to die at Understanding Depression Starting late in Sweden the same high rate as men who remained Special Health Reports from Harvard Medical School A 35-year study from Sweden provides strong inactive. But over the next five years, the To order, call 877-649-9457 evidence that starting to exercise late in life benefit kicked in; by 10 years of follow-up, (toll-free) or visit us online is better than never starting at all—much the men who adopted exercise in middle at www.health.harvard.edu. better, in fact. age enjoyed the same low mortality rate The subjects were 2,205 male residents as men who began before age 50. All in CONTACT US of the municipality of Uppsala. All the men all, men who adopted exercise after 50 had Write to us at were between the ages of 49 and 51 when a 49% lower death rate than the men who [email protected] they volunteered for the study between remained inactive, a benefit even greater For customer service, write us at 1970 and 1973. During the course of the than the 40% risk reduction experienced [email protected] This Harvard Health Publication was prepared exclusively for ntavares - Purchased at http://www.health.harvard.edu/ Exercise helps late starters (continued) by men who quit smoking after age Knowledge Is Power 50. And the protective effect of exer- Turning back the clock EDITORIAL STAFF cise remained significant even after the Editor Harvey B. Simon, M.D. Ponce de Leon learned it the hard way: Editorial Assistant Kathleen Sweeney Laing scientists adjusted their results for the There is no fountain of youth. But an Copy Editor Pat Cleary impact of smoking, drinking, obesity, Art Director Heather Derocher interesting study tells us that exercise Illustrator Harriet Greenfield, M.A. diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, can make arteries act younger. Production Coordinator Nicole Wall and socioeconomic status. EDITORIAL BOARD As people age, their arteries tend to Board members are associated with Men looking for an excuse to stay on Harvard Medical School and affiliated institutions. the couch may suspect a catch, won- constrict (narrow), reducing the tissue’s Cardiology Patrick T. O’Gara, M.D. supply of oxygen-rich blood. To find out Endocrinology Gilbert H. Daniels, M.D. dering if they have to become long- Gastroenterology Stanley J. Rosenberg, M.D. distance runners to benefit from taking if exercise can improve age-related vas- Internal Medicine Christopher M. Coley, M.D. cular function, scientists compared 13 Stephen E. Goldfinger, M.D. up exercise in midlife. Quite the reverse. Russell S. Phillips, M.D. According to the Swedish study, men healthy men with an average age of 27 Neurology Colin McDonald, M.D. and 15 healthy men with an average Oncology Marc B. Garnick, M.D. were classified as moderate exercisers Orthopedics John M. Siliski, M.D. if they simply took frequent walks or age of 62. As expected, the older gents’ Otolaryngology Gregory W. Randolph, M.D. arteries were more prone to constrict Preventive Medicine Edward L. Giovannucci, M.D. often went cycling for pleasure. And Psychiatry Greg L. Fricchione, M.D. and less apt to dilate (widen). But for high-level exercise involved a minimum Radiation Oncology William U. Shipley, M.D. the next three months, eight of the Surgery David W. Rattner, M.D. of just three hours of serious gardening Urology William C. DeWolf, M.D. older men began an exercise program, Niall M. Heney, M.D. or recreational sports a week. And in averaging nearly five hours a week of case you’re tempted to cook up another CUSTOMER SERVICE moderate aerobic training. At the end Call: 877-649-9457 (toll-free) excuse, you’ll soon see that this impor- E-mail: [email protected] of that time, the arterial function tests Online: www.health.harvard.edu/customer_service tant new study does not stand alone. Letters: Harvard Health Publications were repeated, and the men who began P.O. Box 9308 to exercise in their 60s scored younger. Big Sandy, TX 75755-9308 Late bloomers in Britain Subscriptions: $32 per year (U.S.) The great 17th-century physician Back issues: Harvard Health Publications Between 1978 and 1980, scientists evalu- ($5 each) P.O. Box 9309 ated 7,735 men from 24 British towns. In Thomas Sydenham said, “A man is as Big Sandy, TX 75755-9309 old as his arteries.” Twenty-first–century Bulk StayWell Consumer Health Publishing 1992, researchers were able to re-evaluate subscriptions: One Atlantic Street, Suite 604 research suggests older men can use Stamford, CT 06901 5,934 of the men, who then had an av- 888-456-1222 ext. 31106 (toll-free) erage age of 63 years. The scientists their legs to turn back the hands of 203-653-6266 their arterial clock. [email protected] tracked these men for an additional four Corporate sales StayWell Consumer Health Publishing and licensing: One Atlantic Street, Suite 604 years, comparing their risk of illness and Stamford, CT 06901 death to their amount of physical activity. [email protected] At each evaluation, the researchers col- life exercise were evident in men who eDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE E-mail: [email protected] lected information about recreational and already had heart disease by the time Letters: Harvard Men’s Health Watch 10 Shattuck Street, 2nd Floor occupational exercise, smoking, drink- they became active as well as in men Boston, MA 02115 ing, social class, obesity, and health status, who were still healthy when they began PERMISSIONS but they did not measure cholesterol, to exercise. Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. Phone: 978-646-2600 blood pressure, or blood sugar levels. Online: www.copyright.com As in the Swedish study, the British News from Norway Published monthly by Harvard Health Publications, research revealed a strong link between A third European study, this time from a division of Harvard Medical School exercise and survival. Even light exer- Norway, confirms the findings from Editor in Chief Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. Publishing Director Edward Coburn cise was protective, reducing the rate of Sweden and England. Beginning in 1972, death by 39%; moderate exercise was researchers evaluated 2,014 healthy men © 2011 Harvard University. (ISSN 1089-1102) Proceeds support the research efforts of even better, cutting the mortality rate who were 40 to 60 years old.