Senior exercise regimens can be effective in managing many common health conditions.
If you made a resolution back in January to work out more in 2021, ideally you’re continuing to stay with it! Adding more physical activity to your everyday activities is the one resolution we ought to all be implementing. For seniors, many of whom take multiple medications for a number of health problems, this is particularly true.
Studies are showing that, surprisingly, physician-approved older adult workout routines can be as beneficial as typically-prescribed medications in combating or treating many of the major causes of death. In one study, researchers compared the usefulness of exercise vs. medication. The results consistently showed that both medications and exercise shared practically the exact same results in lowering deaths in individuals who had previously been identified as having a number of common and serious health problems, like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
For example, the research found that people with heart disease who exercised but did not use commonly-prescribed medications, such as angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, statins, or antiplatelet drugs, had a comparable risk of dying from — or surviving — cardiovascular disease as individuals who were taking those medications.
Researchers also outlined how infrequently physicians “prescribe” exercise as an effective medical intervention. Huseyin Naci, a graduate student at the London School of Economics and Political Science, along with Dr. John Ioannidis, director of the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the Stanford University School of Medicine, worked jointly on the study, determining that, according to Naci, “We are not suggesting that anyone stop taking their medications. But maybe people could think long and hard about their lifestyles and talk to their doctors about whether exercise could and should be incorporated into their care.”
At Advanced Home Health Care, we love helping older adults stay as active as possible, while achieving the best possible quality of life. As the most respected providers of Burlington, IA senior care services and care throughout the nearby areas, we proudly provide transportation and accompaniment to exercise classes as well as companionship to encourage, motivate, and make fitness fun. Also, we provide many other home care services that are specifically personalized to meet each person’s unique health and fitness goals.
Contact us at 800.791.7785 to learn more about how we can help improve the overall health and wellbeing for a senior you love! Whether the need is for only a couple of hours of help each week, full-time, 24-hour care, or anything in between, a perfectly matched care provider can provide the ideal amount of care to help a senior you love thrive in the comfort of home. To learn about all the communities where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.
