7 Amazing Benefits of Exercise for Aging Adults
Crystal Willson
Exercise has plenty of benefits attached to it. Top on the list is its natural ability to keep the body healthy and strong. However, as we age, we tend to become more sedentary due to pain issues, health problems, or weight.
A new study found that those who worked out consistently slowed down the aging process by attaining a young person’s muscle mass. Aside from this amazing benefit, here are seven excellent benefits of exercise for aging adults:
1. Maintains Healthy Bones
The bones are one of the most affected parts when you age. The good news is that there are many ways to ensure that they are in good condition even when old age approaches.
Though underrated, exercise is one of the many remedies that keep the bones in proper shape. What’s more, it strengthens the bones, relieving you of significant aches and pains such as back pains.
Also, exercise flattens the curve of osteoporosis in the older generation. Aging adults need to stay committed to a life of fitness combined with a healthy diet to reap this and more benefits.
The use of CBD products such as Lazarus Naturals during or after exercise is a welcome option. It wields a vast array of benefits, including:
- Ensures relief when applied to the skin after a rigorous workout session.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe muscles after exercises.
- Pre-workout CBD supplements help stimulate the ECS (Endocannabinoid System) which quickens the healing process and ensures body nourishment.
2. Increases Lifespan
Aging adults don’t have to engage in rigorous exercises like those meant for the younger generation. Instead, simple activities such as regular walking are just as beneficial.
However, the benefits depend on your commitment to your exercise regimen. In this case, the health benefits of walking include:
- It strengthens muscles.
- It lowers the risks of diseases associated with aging, such as heart diseases, stroke, and arthritis.
- It reduces blood pressure in hypertensive cases.
Aging adults who engage in walking are guaranteed to live a full and productive life.
3. Helps Improve Cognitive Health
The chances of aging adults forgetting vital information are relatively high. This is all the more reason to take advantage of the benefits that exercise offers like cognitive health. Cognitive health mostly touches on the brain and all that’s related to it.
Exercise helps reduce the risk of developing dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease. It also helps improve the health of your brain in the following ways:
- Improves your memory- During exercise, there is a steady flow of blood towards the brain. As a result, this facilitates the production of growth hormones, hence developing new brain cells.
- Shields the memory against stressful thinking patterns- Growing older does come with various challenges, especially to the brain and memory. Exercise helps in bringing these challenges under control by improving blood flow towards the brain cells.
- Boosts the levels of concentration- Morning hours are normally the best to tap into brain energy. Exercising in the morning sets the tone for your concentration levels for the rest of the day.
- Reduces anxiety as well as depression- Exercising improves the mood, thus keeping depression and anxiety at bay.
4. Reduces The Risk Of Falling
The older you grow, the more likely you are to lose your balance and fall. Exercising enables you to gain body balance, ensuring that you have better movement.
Engaging in exercises frequently means that your chances of independent living increases. Your body becomes more accustomed to doing things on its own rather than depending on assistive devices.
This means your visits to the restroom will be unsupervised. And that’s not all; cooking, bathing, and dressing will be your sole responsibilities just as they were when you were younger.
Aside from exercising, taking vitamin D can significantly help in reducing the chances of falling.
5. Prevents Diseases And Delays Them
Exercise is the leading remedy and preventive measure for lifestyle diseases that might catch up with you when growing older. It helps improve the major physiological functions, hence bringing diseases to a halt.
Nonetheless, it’s wiser to check with your physician first before engaging in any exercise. Your body might react differently from your expectations. You need to be physically and psychologically prepared to undertake any physical activity.
Exercises help in the management of high-risk diseases such as heart diseases as well as high cholesterol. Regular activity keeps the body active and reduces the risk of contracting diseases associated with aging.
6. General Improvement Of Health
As mentioned earlier, aging adults who exercise regularly are assured of improved health and quality life. Your sleep patterns will no longer be disorganized.
Trips to the doctor will be quite minimal, and your heart will function normally. This, in turn, will help improve the flow of blood around the body. The general safety of your health is guaranteed since the vitals are up and running as they should.
Check on the consistency factor once your doctor gives you the go-ahead to engage in exercise. Make the most out of morning hours as the body tends to be quite stiff after hours of lying down without much activity.
7. Increases Confidence Levels
Confidence in the elderly is usually brought about by the ability to do things on their own. Exercising guarantees this and more benefits, making the aging adults independent.
Most aging adults walk around with the visible fear of tripping and falling on the ground. This causes problems since their bodies are not as healthy and well structured as they once were.
Adopting an active style means that they become cushioned against these and other fears.
Final Thoughts
Sure, it’s easy to get discouraged when injury or illness gets in the way of your exercising routine. However, focusing on the bigger picture of staying healthy and strong as an aging adult should get you going for the long haul.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/olderad.htm
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2018/regular-exercise-aging-fd.html
https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/