Are You Elderly? Six Reasons You Should Exercise
Regular exercise for the elderly offers great benefits, including extending lifespan.
Exercise is good for us. Still, some believe that one should try to do less with each passing year and take it easy. Is that approach correct? The answer for many is no. Despite the known value of physical activity, only about a quarter of individuals ages 65 to 74 exercise regularly. Here is the take of the National Institute for Ageing:
Exercise is suitable for people of any age. Physical activity can help with many chronic conditions. And contrary to popular belief, weakness and low balance are linked to inactivity, rather than age.
If you need the motivation to move, here are some reasons you should do so:
- You may live longer. Simple activities such as walking 150 minutes per week (for example, thirty minutes for five days per week) may add three to five years to your lifespan. Whatever you do, try to minimize the time you spend being sedentary. The World Health Organization offers the provocative observation that leading a sedentary lifestyle is a top ten cause of death and disability.
- You may drop your risk of traumatic falls. By getting some physical activity, you may improve your muscle strength and bone density as well. And then there are the improvements in balance. Here, the World Health Organization has a view: Regular exercise can drop the risk of having a hip fracture by a relative forty percent.
- You may improve your bone density. Get some weight-bearing activity to better your bone density, and you may lower your probability of developing bone loss (for example, osteoporosis) and bone fractures, too. Remember: One in two women (and one in five men) will break a bone because of osteoporosis, at least according to the National Osteoporosis Society.
- You can lower your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Try brisk walking, cycling, or yard work — get your heart rate up and increase blood flow to the heart.
- You may drop your risk of developing dementia. A sedentary lifestyle raises your risk of developing dementia, at least according to an analysis of older adults published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
- You may prevent or delay disease. Get benefits with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and high cholesterol.
Go to this British site for some helpful hints about getting fit for free: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/free-fitness-ideas/.
I am Dr. Michael Hunter, and I thank you for joining me today. I hope you have a joy-filled day.
Reference
https://home.bt.com/lifestyle/health/wellness/7-benefits-of-exercise-for-the-elderly-11364144390476
