You’ve probably heard it many times by now, but exercise is one of the best things that elderly folks can do to help improve their health. New research only reaffirms this. A ten year study looked at a large group of older adults and measured their activity levels. It looked at intensity of walking, distance, and other leisurely activity. It wasn’t a big surprise to find that those who were most active had less of a chance of cardiovascular disease.
This study, which was recently released, indicates that walking faster or for longer periods of time has a significant impact upon cardiovascular health. The study focused on older adults with a strong focus those age 75 and up. In the past, exercise has been advised for this population of the elderly community, but there hasn’t been a lot of hard evidence to support this claim. The new study aimed to do precisely this and silence those that doubted that exercise was effective for everyone.
Walking for long distances at strenuous paces is not something that every senior citizen can do. There are health benefits to it, yes, but that doesn’t meant that everyone is capable of doing it. In this instance, finding an alternative method of exercise will be advantageous. This may require a visit to your loved one’s general physician to come up with some ideas of what types of exercise will be most helpful and safe at the same time. Some exercises, such as simple resistance activities, can be done easily in the home. Others may require a trip to a physical therapist. Some individuals will not be able to exercise at all. If you do have questions, please consult a medical professional before you begin. This is always the smartest thing to do when making changes to the lifestyle of an older adult.
There are a number of health factors that become exacerbated as we age. If left unchecked, there is often a need for some sort of in-home care or other type of long term senior care. Exercise can help to offset this. Keep in mind that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the United States, and if there is something that you can do to help a loved one offset the chances of developing this disease, you should do what you can to help them. Not only does this improve their health for later on in life, it helps reduce the costs and severity of the care that they will need. It also helps them to maintain their freedom and independence later into their lives. All of these things are major problems for some seniors right now, and the sooner that you are able to help your loved ones live healthier lives, the better off they will be.
Exercise shouldn’t be a chore, but many people think of it this way. If you don’t like walking, then find something that you do. There are many things out there that will help, and once you and your family find something that you enjoy, exercise becomes something that you will look forward to.
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