Exercise Your Way to Health
By Eileen Silva

One of the best things you can do for your health is to find an activity that gets your body moving and stick with it. According to the National Women’s Health Information Center, being physically active can:

Lower risk of getting heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes;

Lower high blood pressure;

Help keep bones, muscles, and joints healthy;

Reduce anxiety and depression;

Improve mood;

Help with handling stress;

Help with weight control;

Protect against falling and bone fractures in older adults;

Help control joint swelling and pain from arthritis;

Improve energy levels, sleep, and appearance.

People with disabilities who become physically active under their doctor’s guidance can improve their heart, lungs, muscles, and bones, while gaining improved flexibility, mobility, and coordination. Besides these factors, increased physical activity contributes greatly to weight loss. People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), osteoarthritis, and some cancers.

While Cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics all contribute to muscle strength and endurance, even 30 minutes of moderately-intensity and above-usual daily physical activity at work or home lowers the risk of chronic disease. Be sure to start with small sessions and work up, warming up for 5 to 10 minutes.