No matter what age you’re at, leading an active lifestyle and exercising on a daily basis play a crucial role in allowing us to maintain or improve our overall health and well-being. However, as we grow older, our health tends to decline along the way, making it more important to adopt a healthier living and an active lifestyle in order to fend off and improve health conditions. Of course, this is not to say that exercising does not pose any concerns for older adults, but the benefits of leading an active lifestyle far outweigh the cons and risks. To find out some benefits of seniors’ active lifestyle, continue reading.
Increases Bone Strength
As we grow older, our bodies’ capability to absorb calcium decreases, in turn reducing our bone strength, and causing our bones to become thinner and weaker. It should come as no surprise that this is an extremely dangerous health condition as weak bones increase the risk of injuries, such as fractures, osteoporosis, and even permanent disability in the long run. All these can prevent an older adult from becoming fully independent and they would have to rely on a caregiver for day-to-day activities. How exercising increases our bone strength is that it encourages the bones to build more cells and become denser, thus making them stronger.
Promotes Heart Health
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 14.2% of older adults aged 45 years old and above have been reported to suffer from either coronary heart disease or stroke. This is especially alarming news as poor heart health can severely impact an individual’s quality of life, leading to them suffering from side effects, such as dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue on a daily basis. As such, in order to enhance your heart health, you have to look forward to boosting your heart rate, which can be achieved by performing a mix of cardio activities and strength training.
Improves Mental Health
We have said this many times. Good physical health is directly correlated to positive mental health. If you recently find that you have been facing sudden low moods and other poor mental conditions like depression and anxiety, you might want to consider taking up sports and working out in order to boost up your mind. As we work out, our bodies will produce the hormone called endorphins, which relieves pain and is what makes us feel happier. What’s more, you will also feel a sense of accomplishment after each workout, contributing to overall better well-being.
Promotes Better Sleep Patterns
Insomnia can be hugely irritating as it prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. There’s no need for saying that poor quality sleep can lead to us feeling moody and sleep-deprived the next day. In addition, our health will take a turn for the worse as our immune system becomes weaker and unable to fend off illnesses. Considering that an active lifestyle requires you to push your body to the limit and perform its best, you may find yourself getting deeper sleep in the evening. This is because, after a workout, the rise of body temperature helps to encourage our bodies to rest once we cool down.
