Your longevity depends on numerous factors, including gender, blood pressure, cholesterol, age, and lifestyle choices. A recent study of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests there may be another one for that list: cardiorespiratory fitness level (CRF), which is determined by your VO2 max.
Although doctors do not routinely check for this health marker, researchers believe that a CRF evaluation should not be reserved just for those experiencing cardiovascular problems.
Better work needs to be done to promote physical activity and physical training, including aerobic and resistance training, throughout the health care system, schools, the workplace, and society for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The long-term health of our populations will depend on the success of these efforts.
The researchers recruited about 59.000 people, ages 40 to 69, and assessed their levels of cardiorespiratory fitness through a submaximal exercise test, or "stress test«, to determine the maximum exercise capacity of each person. From there, they were categorized based on how well they handled the cardiovascular workload.
Some six years later, the researchers found that the group of people who were classified as most at risk, those who struggled with the stress test, were associated with a shorter lifespan.
The study shows that between people with low risk and without diseases, a higher level of physical fitness was strongly associated with a lower risk of premature death. The findings enable new insights into the incremental and prognostic value of a fitness assessment.
Although other health markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index are important to keep in mind, physical condition should also be assessed, as part of a normal annual physical examination.
The difficulty is that many physicians do not have easy access to such tests, nor do they have the staff to administer and monitor the tests. This can make it difficult to request a CRF evaluation unless there are other risk factors that warrant the evaluation. However, there is something everyone can do, whether they can get tested or not.
Increase your physical activity during the day and maintain it over time. That is what changes your CRF level and provides benefits not only to your cardiovascular system, but also metabolic function, skeletal muscle, and pulmonary system.
Regardless of your fitness level, there are many ways to work to increase your VO2 max, such as adding HIIT workouts, climbing, and training sessions to your routine.