New study shows exercise could lower kidney stone risk, It looks like women may have another reason to exercise: it could help prevent kidney stones. According to the ABC 7 news website, a new large study, which was discussed yesterday at an American Urological Association conference in San Diego, shows that even just getting in some walking time could cut the risk of developing this problem by about one-third.
The report goes on to state that the research involved nearly 85,000 women 50 and older in the government-funded Women’s Health Initiative study. All had an exam to measure weight and height so doctors could figure out their body mass index, a gauge of obesity. They also filled out annual surveys on what they ate, so researchers could take into account things known to lower the risk of kidney stones, such as drinking a lot of fluids and eating less salt or meat.
Participants in the study said how much exercise they usually got and that was translated into “METs-“a measure of how much effort an activity takes. For example, 10 METs per week is about 2 ½ hours of walking at a moderate pace, four hours of light gardening or one hour of jogging.
The research shows that compared to women who got no leisure-time exercise, those who got up to 5 METs per week had a 16 percent lower risk for stones. The risk was 22 percent lower with 5 to 10 METs per week and 31 percent lower for 10 METs or more.
Dr. Matthew Sorensen of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle led the study and says that the intensity of the exercise doesn’t matter. “Every little bit makes a difference” and the intensity doesn’t matter- just getting a minimum amount of exercise does,” he says. For more information on this study, visit the Health Beat page on the ABC 7 news website at http://abclocal.go.com/.
The report goes on to state that the research involved nearly 85,000 women 50 and older in the government-funded Women’s Health Initiative study. All had an exam to measure weight and height so doctors could figure out their body mass index, a gauge of obesity. They also filled out annual surveys on what they ate, so researchers could take into account things known to lower the risk of kidney stones, such as drinking a lot of fluids and eating less salt or meat.
Participants in the study said how much exercise they usually got and that was translated into “METs-“a measure of how much effort an activity takes. For example, 10 METs per week is about 2 ½ hours of walking at a moderate pace, four hours of light gardening or one hour of jogging.
The research shows that compared to women who got no leisure-time exercise, those who got up to 5 METs per week had a 16 percent lower risk for stones. The risk was 22 percent lower with 5 to 10 METs per week and 31 percent lower for 10 METs or more.
Dr. Matthew Sorensen of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle led the study and says that the intensity of the exercise doesn’t matter. “Every little bit makes a difference” and the intensity doesn’t matter- just getting a minimum amount of exercise does,” he says. For more information on this study, visit the Health Beat page on the ABC 7 news website at http://abclocal.go.com/.
Blogger Comment
Facebook Comment