Scientists have proven what some health experts have been saying for years, that exercise is as good a natural medicine as prescription drugs are, BBC News reported.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers assessed the benefits of physical activity compared to prescription drugs. They found, in many cases, that exercise matched heart medication and even out-performed some stroke medicine.

However, health experts were keen to advise patients not to stop taking medication in favor of increased physical activity, but to practice the two in tandem.

The study analyzed data of nearly 340,000 patients and found that physical activity has fallen, while the use of prescription drugs rises. In England, one third of the population does not exercise the weekly-recommended 2.5 hours of moderate-intense physical activity.

On the other hand, each person in England had an average of 17.7 prescriptions in 2010, compared with 11.2 in 2000.

For the study, scientists from the London School of Economics, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Stanford University school of Medicine collaborated to research previous studies linking prescription drugs to exercise.

They found drugs such as diuretics were clearly better for heart failure patients, while physical activity was more beneficial for stroke patients' life expectancy. Other than those two instances, the researchers found the two were comparable in terms of death rates.

"Medicines are an extremely important part of the treatment of many heart conditions and people on prescribed drugs should keep taking their vital meds," Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said. "If you have a heart condition or have been told you're at high risk of heart disease, talk to your doctor about the role that exercise can play in your treatment."

The Stroke Association's Dr. Peter Coleman also believes physical activity is important when combined with medication. He said regular exercise can reduce one's chance of stroke by 27 percent.

"We would like to see more research into the long-term benefits of exercise for stroke patients," he said. "By taking important steps, such as regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and stopping smoking, people can significantly reduce their risk of stroke."