Can physical activity reduce your risk for heart disease?
Heart disease and stroke are two leading causes of death in the United States.
Getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases.
You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity.
Can you still exercise if you have a health problem?
You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
In fact, physical activity may help.
For most older adults, physical activities like brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weightlifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly.
Do I Need to Do Anything Special Before Getting started?
Depending on your condition, a health care provider might suggest some safety actions before exercising.
People with diabetes, for example, need to know that exercise lowers blood sugar.
Checking the blood sugar level before activity is important.
People who take insulin or diabetes medicines that lower blood sugar might need a snack before exercis.
Does physical activity improve brain health?
Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.
Adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity gain some health benefits.
How can exercise help a person's health?
Here are ways exercise can help some illnesses.
Arthritis.
Exercise can ease pain, build muscle strength around joints and lessen joint stiffness.
It also can help people with arthritis move better and improve quality of life.
Asthma.
Often, exercise can help control how often asthma attacks happen and how bad they are.
Back pain.
How Can Exercise Improve A Chronic condition?
Besides helping prevent many long-lasting conditions, regular physical activity can help make life better for people who have them.
A complete program includes exercise that raises the heart rate, builds muscle and helps keep joints moving well.
Exercise that raises the heart rate is known as aerobic exercise.
It can help improve heart health, stam.
How Can I Expect to Feel?
Talk to a health care provider about how much soreness or tiredness to expect during or after exercise.
Ask for ways to lessen both.
Find out what's OK and what might be a sign of something more serious.
Then listen to your body.
For people with heart disease, for example, dizziness, unusual shortness of breath, chest pain or an irregular heartbeat.
How Often, How Much and at What Intensity Can I Safely Exercise?
Before starting to exercise, talk to a health care provider about how long and hard to exercise.
For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
Or combine moderate and vigorous activity.
The guidelines sugges.
What Exercises Are Safe?
A health care provider might suggest some exercises to ease pain or build strength.
Depending on your condition, you might not be able to do some exercises at all or during flare-ups.
Some people might need to talk to a physical or occupational therapist before starting to exercise.
People with low back pain, for example, might choose exercises tha.
