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 Researchers in the UK examined data on 187,281 regular commuters and
171,498 adults who didn't routinely travel to work. About two-thirds
of the commuters relied exclusively on a car to get to work.
After an average follow-up period of seven years, commuters who
walked, rode a bike or took public transit at least part of the way
to work were 11 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular
disease and 30 percent less likely to die from it than people who
exclusively commuted by car.
"The study suggests that replacing car journeys with more active
patterns of travel may help people reduce their risk of heart
disease and stroke," said lead author Dr. Oliver Mytton of the
University of Cambridge.
"For most people this means walking or public transport, instead of
using the car," Mytton said by email. "Public transport often
involves walking - to or from bus or train stops - so can be a very
effective way to build regular activity into your daily life."
Doctors typically advise people to get at least 150 minutes a week
of moderate to vigorous exercise.
While physical activity has long been linked to a lower risk of
cardiovascular disease, many adults spend much of their day in
sedentary jobs and compound this lack of movement with inactive
commutes. Sedentary time has also been independently linked to an
increased risk of premature death.
When people do find time to exercise, even if it's just to bike or
walk or stroll to a bus or train station to get to work, it can help
them maintain a healthy weight and keep blood pressure, cholesterol
and blood sugar levels in a healthy range, Mytton said.
"All of these factors reduce risk of heart disease or stroke,"
Mytton added.
People who were regular commuters at the start of current study were
a bit younger than those who didn't travel to work: 52 years old
compared with 61 years old.
Commuters also spent a little more time each week participating in
sports, but the people who didn't travel to work spent more of their
leisure time walking, the authors note in the journal Heart.
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Overall, 82 percent of commuters and 77 percent of the other
participants used the car at least some of the time for travel
unrelated to work. In addition, 22 percent of commuters and 37
percent of other people in the study used public transit when they
weren't going to work.
About 45 percent of the commuters and 53 percent of the other
participants also reported some walking when they weren't going to
work, and 9 percent of commuters and 7 percent of other adults
reported some cycling.
Among the people who were not regular commuters, more active forms
of travel were associated with an 8 percent lower risk of death from
all causes during the study.
The study wasn't a controlled experiment designed to prove whether
or how commuting by foot, bike, bus or train might directly lower
the risk of heart disease.
Researchers also lacked data on any changes in commuting habits over
time.
Still, the findings offer fresh evidence of the benefits of finding
ways to fit even a little bit of exercise into daily routines, said
April Mohanty of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Salt Lake City Health
Care System and the University of Utah School of Medicine.
"Assuming the environment supports more active travel routines, such
as accessible, safe bike and walking paths, incorporating physical
activity into travel, even for only part of the journey, may be a
convenient strategy to improve health," Mohanty, author of an
accompanying editorial, said by email.
"The new finding of the current study is that individuals who do not
regularly commute also benefited from including physical activity
into their travel routines," Mohanty added. "This is an important
finding as many individuals work from home or do not regularly
commute for other reasons."
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2KNoAA9 and https://bit.ly/2LrYQKO Heart,
online May 22, 2018.
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