Drinkers don’t sweat death — or medical debt — if they exercise

Gym rats can drink to their health — and a fatter bank account.

Exercising 150 minutes a week may outweigh some lethal side effects of boozing, the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported Wednesday.

 Another study revealed exercising sheds medical costs as well as extra pounds.

Researchers reviewed several different health surveys taken in England and Scotland between 1994 and 2011. Although they saw a “direct association” between drinking alcohol and death from all causes and from cancer, they also observed that drinkers who did regular physical activity like walking and playing sports showed a lower risk of mortality. And in some cases, the exercise even canceled out that risk.

“Our results provide an additional argument for the role of [physical activity] as a means to promote the health of the population even in the presence of other less healthy behaviors,” the researchers wrote in their report.

 

And people more worried about saving cash than sipping cocktails should also consider stepping up their workout routine.

The American Heart Association reported that patients with heart disease who also did 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise) a week saved more than $2,500 on average in annual health care costs. Healthy patients who met these activity recommendations also enjoyed lower average medical costs. Subjects showed a much lower risk of being hospitalized, going to the emergency room or using prescription drugs.

“The message to the patient is clear: There is no better pill in reducing the risk of disease and healthcare costs than optimizing physical activity,” wrote senior author Dr. Khurram Nasir.