Physical Activity As Medicine

Dott.ssa Valentina Vecellio

Nationality: Italian

Lives in: Merano BZ, Italy

Experience: Former competitive athlete in triathlon and running with a black belt in Xoseikan Budo. Popular speaker at scientific and medical conferences and conventions. 

Physical Activity As Medicine

Regular physical activity prolongs life, prevents diseases, and can even cure existing ones. Doctors agree: Movement is medicine.

The Bad News: cardiovascular disease along with tumors are the leading causes of illness and death in industrialized countries. At best, these diseases become a chronic condition for sufferers. Chronic diseases account for 80 % of public health expenditure.

The Good News: 70 % of these diseases can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Physical inactivity is a breeding ground for health problems including:
• coronary artery disease, heart failure, circulatory system diseases, high blood pressure ;

• diabetes mellitus, high blood triglycerides and cholesterol;

• obesity;

• metabolic syndrome;

• colon cancer, breast cancer, uteran cancer, prostate and pancreatic cancer ;

• depression;

• osteoporosis.

Physical activity not only prevents the development of these major diseases in Western and developing countries, but also treats cardiovascular diseases and reduces metabolic disorders. Regular physical activity significantly lowers the risk of recurrence of tumors (Up to 40-50% for breast cancer and colon). Additionally, it reduces body fat, regulates blood sugar, increases insulin sensitivity, lowers bad cholesterol (LDL), increases the good cholesterol (HDL), and lowers triglycerides and blood pressure. It is also beneficial to the immune system and the inflammatory parameters in blood, and has been proven to be extremely effective in relieving pain and improving one’s mood.

The effects of physical activity not only benefit the health of the individual, but also the financial health of society. Fewer preventable hospitalizations linked to inactivity will reduce the use of drugs and total costs for the National Health System.

Valentina Vecellio