Understanding the Impact of Exercise on Longevity: Insights from Hulk Hogan’s Lifestyle
This article is republished from The Conversation.
In an unfortunate event on July 24, 2025, the renowned American pro wrestling personality Hulk Hogan, or Terry Bollea, passed away at 71. Struggling with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and atrial fibrillation (A-fib), Hogan’s official cause of death was confirmed as acute myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Hulk Hogan’s Fitness Legacy
Having gained fame in the 1980s, Hogan was known for his commitment to fitness and an active lifestyle, despite enduring 25 surgeries within a span of 10 years, including one for his neck. However, Hogan’s passing brings to focus the significance of heart health through exercise.
The Dual Edge of Extreme Bodybuilding
Bodybuilders are often seen as the epitome of health, but excessive muscle-building can increase the load on the heart, leading to potential harm. This highlights the paradox where individuals who exercise intensely and look healthy externally might be concealing internal health issues.
Exercise and Heart Health
Working as the director of sports cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, I engage with patients across all ages and fitness levels who strive to enhance their health by incorporating or optimizing exercise in their lifestyle.
Exercise as a Vital Sign
Most people equate vital signs with metrics like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate, and blood oxygen levels. However, the American Heart Association asserts “fitness” as an essential vital sign that should be considered while assessing a patient’s overall health and risk of heart disease, cancer, and death.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
Exercise is one of the most effective strategies to prolong life and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, thereby extending health span — the years spent in good health.
Exercise and Chronic Disease Prevention
Regular physical activity is proven to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. It helps maintain a healthy weight, thus reducing obesity, a risk factor for up to 13 forms of cancer. Exercise also aids in regulating hormone levels, thereby impeding cancer cell growth.
The Optimal Dose of Exercise
Major health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and Department of Health and Human Services, recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or at least 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity exercise.
It’s Never Too Late to Start
Many patients often ask, “Is it ever too late to start exercising?” There is compelling data suggesting that people can reap the benefits even if they commence an exercise program in their 50s.
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