The medicine Dr. Harold Elrick often prescribed can't be found in any pharmacy and isn't always easy to swallow. Elrick sent many of his patients away with orders to get up and get moving. Dr. Elrick, a general practitioner, was 81 years old in 2000, one of the oldest practicing physicians in California, and still running marathons. He began studying the preventive and therapeutic powers of exercise in the 1950s, long before jogging and gyms became popular. In recent years, numerous studies have proven him correct as researchers continue to discover that exercise has benefits beyond helping people lose weight.
Exercise is indicated for certain conditions just like a medicine.
And the great thing is it has fewer side effects than any medicine. Medical evidence seems to back up these claims. Studies show that up to 12 percent of all deaths in the United States can be attributed to lack of activity, according to the American Heart Association. Lack of exercise is linked to a greater risk of many diseases, including diabetes, colon and breast cancer, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. A regular workout can help manage those and other conditions, ranging from arthritis to depression.