They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s just one reason that working out should be a part of your ongoing health care.
Just like regular doctor exams, cancer screenings, dental cleanings, blood work, and other routine procedures mature adults should be doing regularly.
Too many people skip out on these, just like they do exercise, even though they’re so important.
“These are simple things you can do that are not scary,” says Dr. David Shusterman, a New York urologist who works with many patients at midlife and beyond. “Everyone should focus on their health as a top New Year’s resolution. We don’t really have much unless we’re healthy.”
Preventive care, including exercise, can dramatically enhance the quality of life. It doesn’t have to be a daunting, gloomy task. Simple steps are critical to improving and extending your quality of life.
Modern healthcare practices emphasize screenings and early detection. Visiting a doctor regularly, getting standard checks like cholesterol and prostate evaluations, can uncover issues silently developing beneath the surface. It’s like lifting the hood of your car, Dr. Shusterman says.
The Role of Exercise in Well-Being
Among the leading preventable causes of death are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Regular exercise should be seen as basic prevention for these and many more – including obesity, which continues to grow at a dangerous rate.
But too many people would rather wait till they develop a chronic illness or get hurt in a fall before taking simple action like… joining a gym.
Chronic disease accounts for over 75% of all healthcare spending and kills almost 1 million Americans a year, says physical therapist Justin Farnsworth.
“The evidence shows over and over that the most effective prevention of chronic disease is to utilize a lifestyle that involves daily movement and exercise. Because ultimately, a pill will never do what exercise can.”
Try these tips to make it easier to build this habit into your life:
• Use a trainer or attend small-group sessions to get proper instruction for the most effective, safe, and fun exercise.
• Workout with a friend or partner.
• Enjoy it as a celebration of life, not as punishment or drudgery.
Exercise Leads to More Benefits
It also has secondary benefits that contribute further to a healthy, enjoyable life.
Among those is maintaining a positive appearance for your partner, for your sense of self, or for your attractiveness level if you’re single, Dr. Shusterman says.
More mature adults are using Botox and other cosmetic enhancements, he has noticed. And more are learning that they need to stay strong throughout their lifetimes.
“The gym is a very critical aspect in both men and women because there is social interaction there and because, if you don’t use these muscles, you will lose them,” he says.
Give us a call today and let’s get you moving!
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.