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But that’s where the question lies: at what point does one really get life-protecting benefit from exercise--beyond the benefits of a better figure?

Those New Year’s resolutions are, believe it or not, just around the corner. One of the most popular ones is to start exercising, of course. While there is a large amount of evidence that shows physical activity can prevent cardiovascular disease, it seems as if no one--or mostly no one--is listening. Most U.S. adults are not sufficiently active, and more than a quarter aren’t active at all.

Well, here’s some new information that may give you a little more motivation to stick to that resolution: new research has found that people age 50 and older who engage in moderate or high levels of physical activity live longer and have less cardiovascular disease. This study used data from the Framingham Heart Study, which has followed more than 5,000 Massachusetts residents for the past 46 years…it’s been a wealth of information regarding cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found higher levels of physical activity added, on the whole, one to three years to total life expectancy. Even just three days a week will provide benefit, and the more, the better. But that’s where the question lies: at what point does one really get life-protecting benefit from exercise--beyond the benefits of a better figure? Dr, Andrew Feldman, Chief of Sports Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital, says, "Cardiovascular health is very important, the heart is a muscle and muscles need to work, therefore you really should do some sort of a cardiovascular pump at least twenty minutes a day."

In fact, according to new research in the latest archives of internal medicine, moderate physical activity in one’s overall lifestyle--those who walk a lot, and don’t sit on the couch-- led to 1.3 years more in total life expectancy among men over 50.. But, if someone engaged in high intensity activity was very active, at more intense levels, that led to 3.7 years more of life. The numbers for women were similar. "You should probably have some sort a of aerobic activity that does keep your heart rate up for some extended period of time, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, a half hour, rather than doing something that is stopping and starting," says Dr. Feldman.

The researchers also found moderate to highly active individuals spent more years without cardiovascular disease. Another study in the same journal did find that highest intensity exercise done most frequently provides the most rewards: the most cardiorespiratory fitness improvements and the only level and frequency at which positive changes in cholesterol levels were found.

These authors do say that moderate exercise for three to four days a week really does not cut it; it needs to be done on at least five days a week to achieve the fitness changes the government recommends.Several organizations and agencies, including the CDC, and the surgeon general recommend at least thirty minutes of moderate intensity exercise on most days of the week to get the health benefits. That means a brisk walk for example.

"Do something and you should do it on a daily basis, not only for your cardiovascular health, but for your bones, and for your psyche and your well-being. It’s all meshes together and you will just be healthier and happier," states Dr. Feldman. So, .if you want to live a longer life, this time, stick to that New Year’s resolution--and exercise regularly.