When most people think of the elderly, words such as frail and weak are often the first to come to mind. These stereotypes are of course not true, but they are all too common. This article will lay out how you can defy these stereotypes of old age, and enjoy your retirement as a healthy, strong, energetic person.
As lung volume drops, it becomes harder for the cells in your body to receive enough oxygen and that is where the health problems start. According to a study by Dr. Dean Ward, our lung function decreases by 40% by the time we reach fifty years old. Another study found that even a slight decline in lung capacity increased the risk of heart disease by 200%! Other studies found a relationship between lung volume and the risk of having a fatal stroke.
Any form of physical activity that you were able to do when young should still be appropriate today. You may find some limitations will apply when first starting out, but anyone can increase muscle mass and resiliency at any age. Many forms of prolonged exercise are excellent for endurance and the preservation of your health. Jogging has been cited as one of the easiest ways to start, though there are some reasons to start out more slowly that you once might have when you were very young. Advancing too far too fast will result in injury and disappointment.
As a result, it's important to start your endurance training slowly. If you run short of breath, or experience any kind of pain, particularly in your chest, it's a sign you're probably running too fast. A good rule of thumb is to increase the distance you run by 10 percent each time you feel you're ready for a new challenge-remember that injuries are not the point of healthy aging. If you're like me and don't like jogging, swimming is a good alternative endurance exercise. Swimming, in my opinion, is a rare form of exercise that is both pleasant and effective-it's high resistance but low impact. Keep in mind that it's still possible to get carried away and push your body too hard.
Just like when you're jogging, take frequent breaks, particularly if you're short of breath. Get out of the pool and rest if your chest begins to hurt. Although swimming can be very tiring, it's a very effective exercise because it works different muscle groups in concert, improving both coordination and endurance. Swimming is a great exercise that can do wonders for your body.
The PACE program focuses on variation; alternating between periods of exertion and recovery. By increasing the intensity and changing the duration of the intervals, your heart and lungs will build up the reverse capacity that was lost over years of the wrong kind of exercise.
Remember to set aside one day every week to allow your body to rest and recuperate from your training. With the right dedication, however, you'll feel younger and healthier in just a matter of months.
Author Resource:
Graham McKenzie in an online content syndicator for ground breaking new fitness equipment device that increases an athletes peak performance by an additional 13.8%.
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