| It's important for people of all ages, especially | | | | how fast your heart is or should be beating. Wear |
| seniors, to stay active. According to the Centers | | | | the proper protective equipment for your activity. |
| for Disease Control, being physically active can | | | | If you are biking, wear a helmet. If you are inline |
| reduce your risk of dying from heart disease and | | | | skating, wear a helmet as well as knee and elbow |
| decreases the risk of colon cancer, diabetes and | | | | pads. Protective gear should be of good quality |
| high blood pressure. Physical activity also helps | | | | and fit properly. It may be expensive, but it's an |
| control weight:; contributes to healthy bones, | | | | expense that is well worth it. Watch out for the |
| muscles and joints; relieves the pain of arthritis; | | | | elements. If it's hot, exercise in the early morning |
| reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; | | | | or early evening when it's cooler, or stay in the |
| and can devrease the need for hospitalizations, | | | | shade and wear light weight clothing. If it's cold, |
| physician visits and medications. Indeed, there's a | | | | dress in layers, and be careful of ice and snow. |
| lot riding on incorporating exercise into your | | | | It's especially important to stay hydrated when |
| lifestyle. There's no better time than now to start | | | | you are engaging in exercise that makes you |
| exercising. Be sure to check with your doctor | | | | sweat. Drink before, during and after exercise to |
| before increasing your physical activity especially if | | | | prevent dehydration. In addition to all the other |
| you have a chronic disease or family history of | | | | benefits of exercise , the secret to a sharp mind |
| chronic disease, chest pain, shortness of breath, | | | | just might lie in your feet as well! Studies show |
| high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, blood clots, | | | | those who took a 30-minute brisk walk three |
| infections or fever, joint swelling, hip surgery or a | | | | days a week had sharper memories. This is what |
| hernia. Here are some tips to help you get | | | | scientists refer to as "executive functions". They |
| started! Don't just jump into a fitness routine. | | | | are the ability to plan, organize and juggle mental |
| First, stretch your arms, legs and back. Start off | | | | tasks. Similar results exist in non-depressed |
| slowly, gradually increasing the pace of your | | | | individuals. Some mental decline is associated with |
| exercise. Don't do too much too soon or you will | | | | normal aging due to reduced blood flow to the |
| hurt yourself. For example, start with 10 minutes | | | | brain . Experts believe exercise may work by |
| of walking before going to 20 and then 30 | | | | improving circulation to essential areas. In a study |
| minutes. For a strength-training program using | | | | of more than 13,000, the risk of breaking a hip |
| weights and machines, talk to a fitness instructor | | | | was nearly 30-percent lower among those who |
| on how much weight to lift and how to use the | | | | take a brisk walk two to four times a week than |
| machines properly. Exercise should make you feel | | | | in sedentary individuals. Those who went from |
| better, not worse. A little soreness, discomfort or | | | | being moderately or vigorously active to being |
| fatigue is normal. Listen to your body, if you feel | | | | sedentary doubled their risk. Talk a walk! A cool |
| light headed, a shortness of breath, a sudden, | | | | down is just as important as a warm up. Stretch |
| severe headache, are sweating excessively, or | | | | your arms, legs and back to bring your heart rate |
| have pains in the chest, stomach or anywhere | | | | back to its normal level. |
| else, you should stop exercising. If symptoms | | | | Steven Johnson is committed to helping people |
| persist, contact your doctor. If you are on | | | | maintain healthy and effective lifestyles. For more |
| medication or have a condition that alters your | | | | information on any other health supplements |
| heart rate, don't use your pulse as a judge of | | | | please visit his website. |