Baby boomers have busy lives. If you are sandwiched between elderly parents and your children, its hard to find time to care for yourself. When it comes to meals there are far too many visits to fast food restaurants and when it comes to an exercise routine, it usually is non-existent.
But there is a health crisis in America today. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight or obese. This is troubling because, the heavier you are the higher the possibility of heart problems. If you are overweight you are more likely to have high cholesterol and triglyceride numbers. The higher these two numbers are, the more likely it is to have a blockage that prevents blood flow to the heart.Even if you have regular sized arms and legs, the chances of heart troubles are still high with a big middle.
By keeping to an exercise regiment, you will not only reduce your waistline, but, your will would reduce your chances of having chest pains or a heart attack by fifty percent. In fact, a person who smokes and exercises may live longer than a person who doesn’t smoke and doesn’t exercise.
Benefits from exercising not only include lower cholesterol and weight loss, but reduced blood pressure as well. Exercise reduces stress on the heart and maintains the blood vessels. If you already have clogged arteries, doing physical activities, may keep the heart beat normal and keep blood flowing through enlarged smaller vessels around the blocked areas.
If you haven’t done much exercise recently, remember to go slow and start small. Listen to your body and stop when it tells you to. A great form of exercise is yoga. Not only does it help you physically, but since it puts an emphasis on breathing, it is good for relaxation and relieving stress, which all helps with the heart. All ages and body types can do yoga. There are classes available in clubs all over the country with trained instructors who would find a routine to fit your personal needs. If you can’t find a yoga class in your area, you could purchase tapes that specify low impact routines.
If that doesn’t interest you, think about taking a walk through the park. Put on a good pair of walking shoes and get out there. Some parks have indoor tracks for bad weather. Remember to start small and build up gradually. With all new exercise routines, make sure you check with your doctor first. He may have additional suggestions for you.
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More About Miranda Thompsen: Miranda Thompsen is a staff writer at Retirement Planning Digest and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Aging Guide. |
