The Importance of Exercising As A Senior Woman

The Importance of Exercising As A Senior Woman : The benefits of exercise in the later years of life cannot be stressed enough according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exercising on a regular basis can go a long way towards preventing chronic disease, improving one’s mood and decreasing the risk of injury.

It is vitally important for a senior woman to make the lifestyle changes necessary to enhance your quality of life to its optimum. It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed by starting an exercise routine during the later years of your life, especially if you weren’t a very active person in your younger days, but just think of all the benefits you will enjoy.

Even those suffering from chronic diseases or living in assisted care facilities can and should exercise because of the vast number of medical conditions prevalent among the elderly that can be improved by exercise such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, dementia and high blood pressure.

Regular exercise has the following benefits:

Improved Heart and Lung Function

Regular exercise decreases the risk of high blood pressure and cardiac disease. It is also known to strengthen the lungs.

Risk of Osteoporosis and Bone Density

Osteoporosis is more common amongst women than men. Regular exercise contributes towards reducing the loss in bone mass in the elderly. Pre-menopausal women tend to lose as much as 2% bone mass every year. Strength training has the ability to not only reduce this loss but also to aid in restoring bones, reduce fractures and improve general balance.

Gastrointestinal Functioning

Your metabolism receives a healthy boost from regular, moderate exercise while proficient waste elimination and general digestive health is promoted.

Functioning of the Immune System

When your body is strong and healthy you will be able to fight of illness and infection more rapidly and with more ease. The time it takes you to recover from injury or illness will also be reduced if you are fit and strong.

Apart from enjoying overall improved health there are also other things that regular exercise will enable you to do. When you are fit it will be easier for you to keep up with your grandchildren when they come to visit. If you enjoy working in the garden you might find yourself bending down easier to tend to your flower beds.

If you have had difficulty reaching for stuff on a high shelf regular exercise might see you being able to stand on tiptoes to do so. Even something as seemingly insignificant as putting on your own shoes will become a great deal easier if you are more flexible.

Although the benefits of moderate exercise for over 65’s generally far outweigh the risks it is recommended to consult with your medical practitioner before commencing with any exercise program.