10.3: Reading- The Miracle Cure

Before You Read

Think about the following question.

There is a medical treatment that can have enormous benefits for people with the following:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart disease
Arthritis
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Diabetes
Anxiety and depression

Can you predict what this treatment is? Write your prediction in the space below.

The Reading

Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.

1 Are Canadians healthy as a nation? A government report published in 2017 suggests that while mortality rates in Canada have declined, rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease (e.g., asthma), and diabetes have increased since 2000. More than one in five Canadians lives with one of these conditions. While these statistics are disheartening, there is hope. It is estimated that over a third of cancers and about 80% of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes are preventable though lifestyle changes. One of the best lifestyle changes is something that almost anyone can do, that doesn’t take much time, and that doesn’t cost anything. This change is walking. Walking is particularly beneficial in the treatment and prevention of cancer, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

2 First, there is evidence that walking may reduce the risk of developing some forms of cancer. Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Canada since 2006, and two in five Canadians are expected to develop some form of cancer during their lives. Researchers in Germany found that people who exercised regularly reduced their risk of dying from cancer by 45% compared with those who did not exercise. This finding appeared to be true regardless of the weight of the individual; in other words, even overweight people had a reduced risk of cancer mortality if they walked regularly. People who have already been diagnosed with cancer may also benefit from increased physical activity. Research in the UK found that women with breast cancer can potentially reduce the risk of recurrence by 40%, just by walking a mile every day; bowel cancer patients can reduce their risk of recurrence by 50% by walking 50 minutes each day. Nancy Gordon agrees with the research findings. The 52-year-old mother of four from Penticton says, “I was diagnosed three years ago, and after my treatment I felt really depressed. My doctor advised me to start walking, and it’s changed my whole outlook on life. I don’t know if my cancer will come back, but I feel healthier than I have in years. I’m optimistic about the future.”

3 Second, walking has excellent benefits for cardiovascular health. The second leading cause of death among Canadians is heart disease, but this does not need to be the case. Countless studies from around the world have shown a clear connection between walking and a reduction in cardiovascular disease. For example, one study carried out at Harvard University investigated over 44,000 men; results showed that walking 30 minutes per day was linked to a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. Neil Williams of Toad River is a good example of a man who might otherwise have been heading for trouble. Heart disease runs in Neil’s family, with his father, uncle, and grandfather all succumbing to heart attacks before the age of 60. Neil says, “My doctor has me on a couple of different medications, but he also told me to walk every day. It really makes a difference. My cholesterol levels are perfect, and I feel so full of energy.” It is often assumed that to improve cardiovascular health, it is necessary to do more strenuous exercise, such as running or jogging, but this has been shown to be inaccurate: walking is just as effective.

4 Finally, walking is also known to be helpful for individuals at risk for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a huge concern in Canada, with over 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In a study conducted in the USA, patients at risk of developing diabetes were divided into three groups. The first group walked briskly for 150 minutes per week and followed a healthy diet; the second group took a drug for diabetes; and the third group took only a placebo. Compared with the group taking the placebo, the group taking medicine were found to be 31% less likely to develop diabetes. However, the group who walked regularly had a 58% lower incidence of diabetes. This is a finding that resonates with Jay and Pamela Morgan from Port Alberni. Both in their early 30s, Jay and Pamela had sedentary lifestyles: “We both work at computers all day,” says Pamela. “We usually came home from work and crashed in front of the TV with a take-out meal. Sometimes we ordered pizza. We never exercised.” It was hardly surprising that both were overweight. When Jay’s doctor told him he had pre-diabetes, the couple decided to take action. “We walked for 30 minutes every morning and night,” Jay says. “After three months, we both had blood tests, and our blood sugar levels were both in the normal range.” The couple recently adopted a dog; now they have no excuse not to walk twice a day.

5 In conclusion, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that walking can be beneficial in the fight against cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. These are not the only medical conditions that have been found to improve with walking; to the conditions listed above, we can add arthritis and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Of course, walking is not the only way to promote good health; a walking program goes hand in hand with eating a healthy diet; limiting (or giving up) smoking, alcohol, and other drugs; getting enough sleep; and reducing stress. However, it can make a huge difference. So talk to your doctor about taking up walking; it may save your life.

Questions

A. Check Your Understanding

Answer the following questions in your own words.

1. Which sentence in the reading gives the main idea of the entire article?

________________________________________________________________________

2. Which three medical conditions are the subject of the three main paragraphs?

a) ______________________________________________________________________

b) ______________________________________________________________________

c) ______________________________________________________________________

3. What scientific evidence exists that walking is good for each of the conditions you named in question 2?

a) ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

b) ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

c) ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

4. What point does the writer make in the concluding paragraph?

________________________________________________________________________

B. Develop Your Vocabulary

Match each word with the correct meaning. The first is done for you.

1. mortality rates (paragraph 1) helpful; with good results

2. chronic (para. 1) coming back (an illness)

3. beneficial (para. 1) sound familiar to

4. recurrence (para. 2) number of deaths

5. succumb to (para. 3) sitting down

6. placebo (para. 4) lasting a long time

7. resonate with (para. 4) drug containing no real medicine

8. sedentary (para. 4) die from

Choose five of the words above. Write a sentence of your own using each word.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

C. Think about It

Think about the following questions. Write your thoughts.

1. Today, Canadians spend more money than ever on gym memberships and diet books. However, a 2017 government report suggests that Canadians are becoming less healthy as a nation. Why do you think these things are not working?

________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think the writer here has included personal stories in addition to scientific research results?

________________________________________________________________________

3. What would you say to someone who said, “There is no point in me doing any exercise. My father and grandfather both died from heart disease, and I’m going to get it, too.”

________________________________________________________________________

4. Has the information given here made you reconsider your own approach to exercise? Why, or why not?

________________________________________________________________________