Park Lakes
May 2014 Official Publication of Park Lakes Property
Owners Association
Volume 2, Issue 5
A FOCUS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Pathway to Improved Health
By Concentra Urgent Care your physical activity Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can SHOULD OLDER ADULTS EXERCISE,TOO? take to maintain or improve your health. When combined with The same HHS guidelines apply, but older adults need eating a healthy diet, regular exercise can substantially reduce to make sure that their fitness level and any chronic your risk of chronic disease, prevent weight gain, and improve conditions allow them to safely perform physical activity. your overall level of physical and emotional fitness. For example, if an older adult is at risk of falling, he HOW MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DO I should do exercises that maintain or improve his NEED? balance. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services WHAT IF I HAVE A CHRONIC MEDICAL (HHS) has recently published several recommendations CONDITION? related to exercise: If you have a chronic medical condition, you 1. Any physical activity is better than no physical activity should be under the care of a health care provider. • Includes people with disabilities It is important to consult your physician about • Far outweighs the possibility of risk of injury the type and amount of physical activity or illness appropriate for you. 2. Most health benefits occur with at least HOW DO I GET STARTED? 150 minutes a week The health benefits of physical activity • Both aerobic and muscle-strengthening far outweigh the risks and some activity are beneficial is better than none. Persons who have 3. For most people, additional benefits not been diagnosed with a chronic occur when condition (such as diabetes, heart disease, • You increase the intensity of your or osteoarthritis) and do not have physical activity symptoms (e.g., chest pain or pressure, • You increase the frequency of your dizziness, or joint pain) do not physical activity need to consult with a health care • You increase the duration of provider prior to starting an exercise program.
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Park Lakes Property Owner's Association Newsletter - May 2014 1