ABOUT US VISIT HAWAIIPACIFICHEALTH.ORG BE HEALTHY LIVE HEALTHY EAT HEALTHY PEOPLE NEWS SAFETY CORNER CONTRIBUTORS VIEW POSTS BY KEYWORD The key to staying young? Be young at heart! Regular movement every day has been shown to be better for your health than intense exercise a few days a week. Plus, if you find an activity you love, you're more apt to stick with it. Physical Activity vs. Exercise – Why Every Little Movement Makes a Difference as We Age CATEGORY: Live Healthy In case you haven’t heard, the health benefits of regular physical activity are numerous and include improved cognition, reduced risk of dementia, improved sleep, better bone health, less anxiety and lowered risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers – just to name a few! Women who are pregnant experience a reduced risk of excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes and postpartum depression. Plus, for people with various chronic medical conditions, regular physical activity helps to reduce risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality and improves overall quality of life. This news may be well and good, but if your current lifestyle is less than active, the thought of beginning an exercise routine may be intimidating. “It is important to differentiate activity level from exercise,” says Dr. Eugene Tareshawty, an internal medicine physician with Kauai Medical Clinic. One of the easiest ways to get your daily dose of physical activity is by walking. Bonus points if you bring a friend along. According to Tareshawty, being active every day – be it walking, dancing or performing household chores – is more important than getting in a workout a few days a week, especially when it comes to aging healthily. “It is never too late to increase your activity level,” Tareshawty says. “Increasing physical activity leads to improved strength, flexibility, mobility and fitness, all of which improve daily function and help maintain independence while reducing the risk of falls and providing social engagement.” New guidelines from the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, as well as strength-training exercise for all major muscle groups twice a week. “The guidelines for physical activity were expanded because continued population studies have shown added benefits, especially in regards to cognitive function, mental health and well-being in the elderly,” Tareshawty explains. “The newer guidelines give better definition to the different grades of physical activity. They also removed the ‘10 minute’ definition to account for cumulative time spent on daily activities.” Moderate physical activity can look like: Walking briskly. Doing house chores (yard work, scrubbing the floor, vacuuming, etc.). Playing actively with children. Biking at a casual pace. Playing with your kids not only strengthens your family bond, it sets them up for a lifetime of healthy habits by showing them the importance of regular physical activity. More-vigorous activity can be any of the following: Jogging or running. Jumping rope. Swimming laps. Playing competitive sports. Practicing Pilates, yoga or tai chi. Skating (interval or cross-training). “The mental and psychological well-being benefits from physical activity are immediate,” Tareshawty says, noting that most people can expect to see some change in their body mass index (BMI) and body composition within a couple weeks of consistent physical activity. “The ability to maintain a normal BMI value and improve other medical conditions, including blood sugar, cholesterol scores and hypertension, require both an active lifestyle and regulation of calorie consumption,” Tareshawty adds. People with advanced medical conditions should receive guidance from their primary care physician (PCP) prior to starting a new activity plan. If you do not currently have a PCP or are on the search for a new doctor, click here to access a list of Hawaii Pacific Health physicians accepting new patients near you. Published on: January 27, 2020 RELATED ARTICLES Could Exercise Be the Untapped Fountain of Youth? Sit Less, Live Longer: Ways to Fit More Motion into Your Workday Healthier Aging Begins with a Healthier Weight back to top Get the latest news on health delivered to your inbox! The material on this website is intended for information purposes only and is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. It should not be used to treat or diagnose a health condition. Always seek the advice from a health care provider. © 2021 HAWAII PACIFIC HEALTH ABOUT US SITEMAP PRIVACY POLICY