As you get older and reach your golden years, you’ll start to worry more about your health. After all, old age usually makes a person vulnerable to a lot of health challenges, such as weakened muscles, decreased heart function, and cognitive problems.
Fortunately, there is one healthy activity that can help you prevent all these age-related conditions and keep your body healthy as you age—and that is regular exercise.
Countless medical research backs the fact that regular physical activity helps improve seniors’ physique and mental well-being. Furthermore, studies have shown that working out can help older adults maintain independence as they age.
You can gain a lot of advantages and suffer no consequences in regularly exercising. So, there’s really no reason not to try and include it in your daily life.
Here are seven more reasons why you should lead an active life inside the best senior housing in Clinton Township.
1. Working Out Boosts the Immune System
A healthy immune system protects you from getting infectious and seasonal diseases that are rampant these days. This includes common colds, flu, allergies, chickenpox, and coronavirus.
As you get older, it is typical for the immune system to decline in function gradually. But with the help of healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, it’s possible to boost and strengthen your immunity despite old age. Some of the direct influence of exercise on your body’s immune system includes:
- It enhances the circulation of antibodies (fighter cells) throughout the body. This can help improve disease detection and prevent infection from spreading.
- It prevents bacteria growth.
- It slows down the release of stress hormones, which is a major trigger for most illnesses.
Just make sure to take it nice and easy, especially for those just starting to get active. If you have an existing health condition, it’s better to consult your doctor first before partaking in any fitness routine.
2. It Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight
Weight problems are common in older adults aged 65 and up. Some unintentionally lose a lot of weight, while others seem to gain more fats than muscle mass. Both situations should cause concern but more so for older adults reeling close to obesity.
Studies have shown that 70% of elderlies are overweight or obese, especially those with mobility problems, taking specific medications, and other disabilities. This is a cause for concern because obesity can increase your risk of developing chronic health conditions that are both fatal and severe.
Fortunately, you can quickly lose the unnecessary fats in your belly by consistently doing aerobic workouts. Eat less junk and exercise more to maintain a healthy weight and even achieve your body goals.
3. It Promotes Heart Health
A sedentary lifestyle can surely lead to a fatty heart, fatty vital organs, and faulty cardiovascular function. Physical inactivity increases the fatty material deposited into your blood vessels, thus damaging the heart and causing it to fail.
But with regular cardio workouts, you can ensure your heart’s health and even reduce your risk of developing other heart disorders in the future. Furthermore, this will also help improve your blood and oxygen circulation throughout your body.
Even if you already have an underlying heart disease, it’s still advisable to do regular exercises to maintain heart health and increase the quality of your life.
4. It Decreases Risk of Falls
Another severe and costly condition that can occur to a senior are fall accidents and injuries. According to the CDC, 3 million older adults get rushed to the ER every year due to fall accidents and fall-related injuries. A quarter of that number gets hospitalized while one out of five seniors suffers head injuries and fractures.
Even if you live in the best senior housing in Clinton Township or have plenty of caregivers, fall accidents can still happen, especially if you already have a history of falling.
To prevent such drastic situations, doctors recommend boosting your muscle and bone strength by regularly exercising. Working out every day can also help improve your balance, flexibility, and overall body strength.
5. It Prevents Chronic Diseases
Almost all older adults have at least one or two chronic health conditions. Comorbidities are so common that it becomes the “norm” for many elderlies. But this does not always have to be this way.
You can live a life free from diseases, pills, and maintenance medications if you adopt a healthy lifestyle. One such healthy practice is through regular physical activity. Exercise can help protect you from the worst chronic disorders out there, such as:
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Bone diseases
- Dementia and other brain disorders
- Various types of cancer
- Obesity
- Breathing problems
- Autoimmune diseases
Moreover, working out can help manage existing health conditions, slow down their progression, and prevent symptoms from acting up. You can consult with your doctor about your willingness to participate in this healthy journey so they can help you come up with a proper exercise routine and plan.
6. It Builds Positive Mental and Emotional Health
Another chronic condition that you can prevent by doing exercises is mental health illnesses. This includes depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. More importantly, staying physically active can help you manage existing mental health conditions effectively.
During an ongoing mental struggle, it might seem counterproductive to be active when all you want to do is sleep endlessly and bury yourself in your bed. But exercising can actually bring you out of an episode and slowly improve your mental health.
7. It Improves Social Welfare
Lastly, exercising daily can quickly become an opportunity for socialization, thus enhancing your social skills and social well-being. You can work on your health and physique while enjoying the company of your friends and fellow residents in your senior housing in Clinton Township.
Furthermore, this gives you a chance to interact with different people every day and stay socially connected. For example, you can join your community fitness group or the senior Zumba sessions in your town.
Participating in group activities will help you build lasting relationships and ward off social anxiety and isolation.
