21. Household chores might lower your risk of death
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
How do daily activities like vacuuming, washing dishes, doing laundry, and cooking affect your health? In a study published in the journal BMJ, researchers examined data from over 36,000 adults in the U.S. and Europe. They tracked each person’s movements with motion sensors and then followed them for six more years to track their deaths. Not surprisingly, they found a reduced risk of death in participants who performed the most moderate to vigorous physical activity. But they did observe that all physical activity counts, regardless of intensity. Even lower-intensity activities, like doing yard work or household chores, lower your risk of death. This study comes as good news for those who can’t perform more aggressive physical exercise.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
