Benefits of Being Active

Being Active is One of the Healthiest Things You Can Do!

From the National Institute of Health

Like most people, you've probably heard that physical activity and exercise are good for you.  In fact, being physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Studies have shown that exercise provides many health benefits and that older adults can gain a lot by staying physically active.  Even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that accompany aging.  Activity can reduce dementia as well as many of the risk factors for dementia such as high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and obesity.

Being physically active can also help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you like to do as you get older.  Making exercise and physical activity a regular part of your life can improve your health and help you maintain your independence as you age.

Benefits of Activity & Exercise:

• Be as Active as Possible - Regular physical activity and exercise are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults.  Staying physically active and exercising regularly can produce long-term health benefits and even improve health for some older people who already have diseases and disabilities.  That's why health experts say that older adults should aim to be as active as possible.
• Being Inactive Can Be Risky - Although exercise and physical activity are among the healthiest things you can do for yourself, some older adults are reluctant to exercise.  Some are afraid that exercise will be too hard or that physical activity will harm them.  Others might think they have to join a gym or have special equipment.  Yet, studies show that "taking it easy" is risky.  For the most part, when older people lose their ability to do things on their own, it doesn't happen just because they've aged.  It's usually because they're not active.  According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, inactive people are nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who are more active.  Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.