No matter what age you are, exercise can have many benefits. One of the most common reasons seniors begin exercising is to improve heart health. Each year, heart disease affects millions of seniors. By implementing an exercise routine, heart health is improved, lowering the chances of developing heart disease. Below is a list containing some tips for seniors as they begin a new exercise program.

Before starting any exercise program, Home Care Walnut Creek wants to remind all seniors to check with their doctor first to make sure that the exercises they’re doing are safe.

1. Make sure all exercises are paced. You do not want to go too fast or over-do it. Give your muscles time to relax between exercises.

2. Individuals who have heart failure should always exercise in a controlled climate. Do not exercise outside in the extreme heat or cold.

3. During all exercises, make sure to have water nearby. Staying hydrated is one of the most important factors of a healthy exercise regime.

4. If you become fatigued, stop the exercise. Do not exercise if you have not been feeling well or if you experience any shortness of breath.

5. Pain can be an indicator of other health problems. If you experience any pain, stop the exercise, especially if the pain is in the chest.

6. After all exercises, check your pulse 15 minutes after you have stopped. Your pulse rate should be lower than 120.

Source: webmd.com

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Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

There has been some research that has been conducted linking the walking speed of elderly patients to mortality rates. The findings indicated that patients who have a slow walking speed may be more apt to develop cardiovascular disease. In fact, a reduced walking speed is a red flag for doctors. It may mean that the patient will soon develop other health issues. Body movement is an important assessment and any change in the speed of these movements could be a cause for concern. A list of facts that link cardiovascular death to walking speed is below.

1. A slow walking speed in an elderly patient is associated with the increased risk of death due to cardiovascular issues.

2. Any decreased motor performance can be viewed as a risk factor.

3. Elderly patients should try to stay as active as possible. Introducing a walking exercise into a daily regime could reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

4. Walking speed can be used to predict future health issues. This may not be possible if the patient has broken a hip in the past 2 years, has a debilitating disease or dementia

Source: www.bmj.com

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Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.