5 Exercises to Lower the Risk of Age-Related Diseases

5 Exercises to Lower the Risk of Age-Related Diseases

Aging-associated diseases often tend to increase with biological agingwhich is the gradual deterioration of functional characteristics. There is aclear difference between age-related illnesses and the process of aging itself.Examples of age-related diseases are cancer, arthritis, cataracts, type 2diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. 

One of the most worrying age related diseaseis dementia, unfortunately it has become an epidemic. “Dementia is now thebiggest cause of death amongst women in many countries, and millions of peoplelive with it every day. However, treatments are improving, and early diagnosisis key” according to FirstCare boss Jane Byrne. 

Although some age-related diseases are inevitable, these exercises canhelp you to lower the risk of these illnesses: 

1. Swimming

It builds endurance and strength of your muscles as well ascardiovascular fitness. When you are swimming, the buoyancy of the watersupports your body and this helps to take the strain off your painful joints aswell as move on more freely since it alleviates stress and also helps to keepyour heart rate up. It also provides an all body workout because all your bodymuscles are used when swimming. Toning muscles and building strength are alsoother reasons why swimming is significant in helping reduce risk of age-relateddisease and it also helps in maintaining a healthy heart and healthy lungs.People with lower back pain should consider swimming since it won't strain orjolt your back.

2. Aerobic Exercises

These include activities such as Walking, elliptical training machinesand dancing. Walking helps in lowering the risk of age-related diseases invarious ways. It increases muscle strength and endurance as well as reducesbody fat. It also helps you to have stronger bones and improved balance isanother benefit of walking. It also helps to relieve stiffness and muscularpain.

3. Strength Training Exercises

These exercises will not always bulk up your muscles but they willkeep them strong. For example exercises that involve major muscles in the bodysuch as biceps, chest, legs, core and shoulders. They help an individual tomaintain balance, weight control, have joint flexibility and have strongerbones. Improving glucose control significantly and help a person sleep betteris another benefit. The exercises help in reducing the symptoms of back pain,depression and diabetes.

4. Flexibility Exercises

These exercises help to keepyour muscles working well. Avoid stretching exercises that strain your spine and to seek adoctor's advice on which exercises are advisable and suitable for you.Stretching exercises have benefits such as relieving low back pain andarthritis. They also help to improve posture and increase the flow of blood inthe body as well as energy levels. Stretching also reduces the risk of fallingsince it improves balance and stability which is a high risk, especially amongolder adults.

5. Balance and Stability Exercises

As indicated above, stretching helps in improving balance andstability but there are also other exercises which help in maintaining balanceand improving the stability of a person such as yoga, walking heel to heel, andusing a balance board or a stability ball. For example, falling is a commonoccurrence among people who have osteoporosis. Fall prevention is crucial andthese exercises help in preventing that and these exercises help a person tofalling and breaking their bones or other injuries.