Memorial Hermann is committed to improving the health of our city through the implementation of the evidenced-based Exercise is Medicine program, incorporating exercise as a vital sign into physician offices, exercise prescriptions, and activation of parks. Along with our other programs, Exercise is Medicine offers the tools to improve the health and well-being of our community through combating behaviors leading to chronic disease.
Add Years to Your Life One Step at a Time - Exercise N.O.W. (No Other Way)
Exercise will improve your health and prevent chronic diseases and you will live an active quality of life that is full of fun and excitement. Exercise is not an option; it is a quality of life. Imagine the impact on your life if you were to lose your ability to function on a daily basis, like doing things that we take for granted such as walking the dog, getting from one location to the next and having mental and physical health to interact with our family and friends and to socialize in your community. The benefits of exercise are priceless rewards for the best health and wellness.
Exercising with a passion to be healthier and a commitment to maintain or reach that healthy goal of only 2.5 hours or 150 minutes per week, will prevent and lower the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. One daily dose of exercise can help prevent, treat and stop the progression of all of these chronic illnesses and diseases. What one prescription pill a day can do all that? For exercise videos and resources, click here.
The Benefits:
- Active individuals have lower risk of death than inactive individuals
- Exercise significantly reduce the onset or progression of obesity, hypertension or high cholesterol
- Reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50 percent
- Lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60 percent
- Reduce the risk of developing of Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 40 percent
- Reduce the incidence of heart disease and high blood pressure by approximately 40 percent
- Lower the risk of stroke by 27 percent
- Lower the risk of developing type II diabetes by 58 percent (lowers blood glucose levels, improves the body’s ability to use insulin, reduces insulin requirement)
- Be twice as effective in treating type II diabetes than the standard insulin prescription, saving on high annual cost of drug treatment
- Can decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioral therapy
- Adults with better muscle strength have a 20 percent lower risk of mortality
- 33 percent lower risk of cancer specific mortality
- Regular physical activity has been shown to lead to higher SAT scores for adolescents
- In a school setting, regular physical activity can decrease discipline incidents involving violence by 59 percent and decrease out-of-school suspensions by 67 percent
For more information, view the fact sheet.