By Faith Patterson, PT
Certified Aging Life Care Manager
We can all agree that staying active is good for you. The benefits to the mind, body, and spirit are numerous. Additionally, engaging in activities helps us stay sharp and make life interesting and engaging.
Our lives and daily routines were certainly altered during the pandemic. Some habits are still with us. Anyone still TV binge-watching? Did you ever reestablish your exercise regimen? Nothing like the present to take hold of your life. And staying physically and mentally active is critical to good health.
Reducing heart disease is a major benefit of exercise. When you exercise your heart becomes a stronger and more efficient pump to supply oxygen and nutrition to your body, providing you with more energy. Heart health improves by reducing cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risks of a heart attack or stroke.
Regular exercise can have a positive impact on your mental health and mood. Exercising allows your body to release chemicals that decrease stress and anxiety. It may decrease the risk of some cancers like colon, breast, lung, and uterine.
Weight-bearing exercises are beneficial to increasing bone health, slowing the loss of bone density, and decreasing fractures. Resistive exercises are also important to maintain muscles, strength, and bone health. These also help to reduce falls.
Sleep quality and quantity can be positively affected by exercise. A person may fall asleep faster and get better and deeper sleep. Remember, don’t exercise too close to bedtime, as this may leave you feeling energized and unable to sleep.
Making exercise part of your routine is important, and even small changes can be beneficial. Walking and other aerobic exercises are excellent ways to stay in shape. Check with your health care provider before starting any program.
Start today and see and feel the difference!
If you or someone you care about needs additional support to help cope, The Option Group is here to help. Please contact our professional care management team for assistance.
About The Option Group: Founded in 2010, The Option Group’s compassionate team of experienced Certified Life Care Managers serves families, their loved ones, medical professionals, and professional family advisors in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The firm understands the challenges of caring for an individual who needs assistance due to aging, dementia, disability, or serious illness. Their skilled providers possess over 100 years of combined experience navigating the healthcare maze and accessing hundreds of quality resources. The Option Group helps families spend quality time with their loved ones, providing clear choices that lead to better care. For more information, visit www.theoptiongroup.net or call 410-667-0266 (MD) or 717-287-9900 / 610-885-8899/ 215-896-6756 (PA) / or 302-858-6449 (DE).