The average life expectancy in the Czech Republic has been increasing for decades. It gradually climbed to 81.9 years for women and to 76.1 years for men. We have thus reached the level of developed western countries. Last year, the positive trend suddenly broke, men's life expectancy fell by 1 year and women by 0.7 years. Doctors from the General University Hospital (VFN) in Prague are clear about the way to reverse the unfavorable trend: the key to prolonging a healthy life by up to 5 years is 150 minutes of regular, adequate exercise per week and lifestyle adjustments.

Sounds like a paradox. On the one hand, Czech healthcare professionals are able to save the lives of people with fatal diagnoses thanks to the excellent results of pharmacological treatment, top medical care or ECMO devices. On the other hand, a third of 65-year-old men feel restricted in their daily activities due to disabilities, and the average Czech lives up to 20 years of his or her life with some form of illness, while the Swede, for example, only 3 years. "Pandemic times have made it clear that people live on the edge of their physical capabilities, and if any unexpected health problem arises, it can be fatal for them." states prof. MUDr. Michal Vrablík, Ph.D., Deputy Mayor III. internal clinics of the General Hospital and the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University and explains: "Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular disease are strong adversaries and are often asymptomatic. Therefore, it is important to be fit, take care of your health and thus delay the onset of many diseases or even eliminate them altogether. It has been proven that a change in lifestyle, especially regular exercise, can reverse metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and prolong life in full health for several years! ”

Find out more at press release.