Exercise especially important for older people with heart disease!
Channel: Health & Wellness
Date: 2019-10-13

It is well-known that exercise is good for cardiac health, but older adults tend to fall through the cracks when it comes to rehabilitation programs.
Now, a study has shown that these individuals have the most to gain.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, being responsible for 1 in 4 deaths. 
Every year, approximately 610,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease, while about 735,000 people have a heart attack.

Adults over the age of 65 years are more likely than younger people to have heart disease because the heart changes with age.
Heart disease is a significant cause of disability, according to the National Institute on Aging, who note that it affects the ability of millions of older people to be active and have a good quality of life.

Now, a new study has confirmed the benefits of exercise for both physical ability and mental health, regardless of a person's age.

Infacts, Older people can benefit the most. 
The study, which features in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, showed that seniors gain the most physical and psychological benefits from rehabilitation programs and yet they receive the least representation.

The reason for this may be that doctors are less likely to refer older people to rehab centers and encourage them to be physically active.

Why exercise benefits older adults
? Regular exercise can slow the heart, lower blood pressure, ease stress, boost morale, and improve oxygen efficiency, as well as helping a person lose excess body weight, which can strain the heart.
It can promote a quicker recovery and sometimes even reduce the need for medication.

The older the person, the higher the risk of complications, and the more quickly they will lose physical condition after a cardiac event such as a heart attack.
As a result, they have so much more to gain from physical activity.

The researchers sum it up by saying: "Aging is associated with several factors, such as increased inflammation or oxidative stress, which predispose people to cardiovascular diseases.
 As a result, elderly patients are usually less fit than their younger counterparts, and deconditioning is accelerated once cardiovascular disease is established."