Can exercise replace drugs? A study recently published in BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) asked this question for four chronic conditions: coronary artery disease, pre-diabetes, stroke and heart failure. The study, which included more than 330,000 patients, was a “meta-analyses.” In other words, it compiled data from previously published controlled trials that looked at the effects of exercise or drug therapy on survival for the illnesses in question.
Exercise vs. Drugs
It is well documented that exercise has far-reaching health benefits. Those who exercise enjoy a higher quality of life than sedentary people, as well as experience less arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression and anxiety. There also is ample evidence that certain drugs, such as aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and statins, to name a few, improve survival in certain illnesses. But there hasn’t been any head-to-head comparison of drugs versus exercise.
Study Results
The results of the meta-analysis are fascinating. Both drugs and exercise improved survival. In patients with heart disease and pre-diabetes, exercise had similar benefits to drug therapy. In patients with stroke, more benefit was seen with exercise than with drugs. In those with heart failure, one class of drugs, diuretics, was better than exercise.
A Prescription for Exercise
This study is not conclusive proof that we can replace drug therapy with exercise. And, you should never stop taking prescribed drugs without consulting your physician. But I have witnessed many success stories with lifestyle changes that include exercise as part of the prescription. My patients need fewer antihypertensive (high blood pressure) drugs, can often come off their insulin or oral diabetic drugs, and use fewer and lower dosages of statins to manage cholesterol levels. My patients become happier and healthier with exercise.
Next time you question whether or not you should go out for that walk or work out with your trainer, ask yourself the following question: “Wouldn’t I rather exercise than take drugs?”
I look forward to sharing with you my next post, which will tackle the topic: “How much exercise is enough?”
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