Carmel, CA Seniors Should Exercise More To Ward Off Heart Disease

Senior couples doing cardio exercises on the yoga mat

At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress that seniors should get the proper amount of exercise, plenty of social interaction, and eat a healthy diet.  Many of our clients are in their 90’s and some even over 100 and most have led very healthy lives which resulted in their longevity.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.  Just over 20 minutes of brisk walking each day can get you there.  “But changing it up could have more benefits,” Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery, told AARP The Magazine (April/May 2022 Issue, page 35).  “Doing a variety of activities, particularly as you get older, will challenge your body, lead to greater fitness and help you avoid injuries.  He advises swapping in alternatives, such as weight training, swimming or biking, and yoga.

Carmel, CA Seniors Need A Solid Exercise Routine

At Family inHome Caregiving we emphasize to our clients the importance of a healthy diet, the proper amount of social interaction—difficult during the pandemic—and the right amount of exercise.  Most seniors put walking into their routine but experts say they need to add strength training.  As you age, loss of muscle strength and power leads to declining activity, increased frailty and functional dependence, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.  Resistance training is an easy way to add strength training to a daily regimen.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that seniors participate in activities at least two weeks that strengthen muscles along with a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking.