Exercise for your Heart

Getting older does not necessarily mean you have to give up the gym. In fact, staying active and exercising as you age has shown to help your heart. Let’s face it, people are not getting any younger and older adults can’t do things they once could. However, that does not mean people should give up the gym completely and risk heart disease.

People who retire by the age of 60 have an increased risk of heart related problems due to a decrease in general physical activity. In a new case study, researchers have found that people over the age of 60 who still exercise drop their heart disease risk by 11 percent. So clearly, exercise is key even when we get older. You may not be in your prime anymore but in order to live longer you need to be healthier. The only way to become healthier is to make efforts to increase physical activity, like going to the gym.

While there are no set guidelines on how to work out for older adults, it is important to remain active. Even just doing small workouts can be beneficial. About 3.2 million deaths per year worldwide can be attributed to inactivity. You don’t have to start lifting heavy weights to get “swole” because that can have its own negative health effect. Just simply go at your own speed and consult with your doctor on what exercises are safe for you.

The bottom line is that everyone benefits from exercise, even if it is just a little bit. Even older people living with disabilities or chronic conditions can benefit from exercise. If you are unsure of what exercises you should add to your daily routine, please contact your doctor.

For more information on the correlation of exercising and heart disease, click here.

Article written by William Graves.