Editor’s Note: Exercise: The No. 1 Prescription
If you want to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic disease, get moving and keep moving. Exercise is the only recommendation I make to every single patient, without exception.
Physical activity benefits cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. Getting regular exercise improves muscle function, balance, and coordination. It reduces the risk of certain cancers, too, especially those related to obesity, including endometrial cancer and breast cancer. Exercise also helps relieve stress and can improve your mood, as well as boosting your energy level and helping you sleep better.
Many women find it increasingly challenging to keep exercising as they get older. It’s relatively easy to find many ways to work your muscles and get your heart rate up when you’re younger, but, as your bones and joints age, and some inflammatory diseases (e.g., arthritis) set in or old injuries flare up, it becomes much harder to do repetitive activities. Here are some tips that will help you keep moving.
Learn a good stretching technique from a physiatrist, physical therapist, or exercise trainer. It’s important to warm up your muscles and joints before you subject them to impact exercises.
Pay attention to pain—if something is hurting, don’t just keep repeating the exercise. If you often have pain when you exercise, get evaluated for arthritis or other treatable conditions.
Be flexible with your exercise choices. Learn to use new machines/exercises periodically to vary the stress you place on different muscles.
Don’t get stuck in an exercise rut. Be sure you change your regimen at least every six to twelve months, but make sure it includes aerobic exercise, resistance training (weight-bearing exercises), and activities that target balance and flexibility. Also, be sure your exercise sneakers fit well and provide adequate support—they provide protective cushioning if you’re doing moderate- or high-impact activities.
The many beneficial forms of exercise include brisk walking, swimming, using an elliptical machine or recumbent bike, working with free weights or weight machines, a ballet barre class, yoga, Pilates, tai chi—try anything that sounds interesting to you. The best forms of exercise are the ones you enjoy.
—Editor-in-Chief Orli R. Etingin, MD
The post Editor’s Note: Exercise: The No. 1 Prescription appeared first on University Health News.
Read Original Article: Editor’s Note: Exercise: The No. 1 Prescription »
Powered by WPeMatico
