Need another reason to exercise? A new study suggests that routine workouts are associated with significantly lower health costs for heart disease patients.
Patients with heart disease who did moderate to vigorous physical activity for 30 minutes at least five times a week saved an average of more than $2,500 in annual healthcare costs, the study found.
And even gym rats without heart disease may experience lower costs, according to the study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“The financial benefits with regular exercise were notable across the entire spectrum of risk including those with and without known cardiovascular disease,” study author Dr. Khurram Nasir, director of the Center for Healthcare Advancement and Outcomes at Baptist Health South Florida, said by email.