The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: **Mixing Up Your Workouts: The Secret to a Longer Life?** A new study reveals that regularly mixing different physical activities like walking, cycling, and swimming could be the key to extending your lifespan.[1][3] **Study Details and Participants** Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from over 111,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study (70,725 women from 1986-2018) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (40,742 men from 1986-2020).[1][2][3] Participants were healthy at baseline, free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and neurological issues, and reported activities every two years, including walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, tennis, stair climbing, rowing, calisthenics, and weight training.[1][2] **Key Findings on Individual Activities** Most activities linked to lower all-cause mortality with nonlinear benefits that plateaued after certain levels, like 20 weekly MET hours (METs measure energy burned above rest).[1][3] Comparing highest to lowest levels: walking (17% lower risk), tennis/squash (15%), rowing/calisthenics (14%), weight training (13%), running (13%), jogging (11%), stair climbing (10%), cycling (4%); swimming showed no significant link.[1][2][3] **Power of Variety** Higher variety in activities was tied to 19% lower all-cause mortality, even after adjusting for total activity volume, plus 13-41% reductions in deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and other causes.[1][3][4] Those with the broadest range outperformed single-activity groups, supporting long-term engagement in multiple types for lifespan extension.[1][3][5] **Why Variety Works** Diverse activities may engage different muscles, reduce overuse injuries, improve overall fitness, and lower risks like smoking while boosting healthy habits.[2][3][5] Experts note bodies' plasticity allows additive benefits from balance, strength, cardio, and more, validating a mix over routine sameness.[5] **Practical Takeaways** Aim for variety alongside sufficient total activity—walk daily, cycle weekends, climb stairs, lift weights—to maximize longevity gains without overdoing any one type.[1][2][5] Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9