Light exercise can lower death risk in older men, study finds

To lower their risk of premature death, researchers have advised older men to exercise lightly as often as possible.

According to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, men in their 40s and 50s derive immense health benefits from light intensity exercise.

The research team, led by University College London, looked at data from 7,735 men recruited in the late 1970s when they were aged between 40 and 59.

Of the total test subjects, 3,137 men were still alive in 2010-12, and were invited for a health check-up.

The check-up included a physical examination, during which they were asked about their lifestyle, sleeping patterns, and whether they had ever been diagnosed with heart disease.

About half of the men agreed to wear an accelerometer to track their activity levels during waking hours for a week and data was available for 1,181 of the men.

From the data, the researchers found that light intensity physical activity was associated with a 17% reduction in the risk of dying.

According to the study, moderate intensity exercise can improve heart health and lower blood pressure, cholesterol and helps to lose excess weight.

It also increases heart rate and makes you breathe a little faster will improve your health.

Some of the light intensity exercises recommended by the researchers include gardening, walking, and household chores.