Exercise and AgingExercise is the activity that results in contraction of skeletal muscle. The term is usually used in reference to any activity that promotes physical fitness (Encarta, exercise). Aging is inevitable, but exercise can help you live a longer healthier life.The first group of people to utilize the benefits of exercise was the Greeks. Aristotle was a famous philosopher of the time, who brought this concept to the people at the time. In 1523, the Spanish explorer and conquistador Ponce de Leon went searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. He discovered Florida. The idea of mythical youth is still very much alive in our culture because we desire to look youthful and ...view middle of the document...
There are many affects of aging on the body and the different systems of the body. Bruises are easier to get because the blood vessels near the surface weaken. The Brain loses some capacity for memorization and learning as cells die. The Nervous system becomes slower to respond to stimuli. This process of the nervous system and brain can be accelerated by overuse of alcohol and other drugs and also repeated blows to the head. Your senses become slower and less sharp with loss of nerve cells. This process is accelerated by smoking and repeated exposure to loud noise. Your lungs become less efficient as elasticity decreases. This process is accelerated by smoking, poor air quality, and insufficient exercise. The heart pumps less efficiently, making exercise more difficult. This process is accelerated by overuse of alcohol and tobacco and poor eating habits. Circulation worsens and blood pressure rises as arteries harden. The process is accelerated by injury and obesity. Joints lose mobility and deteriorate form constant wear and pressure. The disappearance of cartilage between vertebrae results in old age "shrinking." This process is accelerated by injury and obesity. Muscles lose bulk and strength and this process is accelerated by insufficient exercise and starvation. The Liver filters toxins from the blood less efficiently. This process is accelerated by alcohol abuse and viral infection. (Encarta, aging).Many people exercise to lose weight, but the benefits of exercise is extensive. Research shows that regular physical activity can reduce your risk for several diseases and conditions and improve your overall quality of life. Regular physical activity can help protect you from the following health problems: heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis, and psychological effects.Daily physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke by strengthening your heart muscle, lowering your blood pressure, raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol) and lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (bad cholesterol), improving blood flow, and increasing your heart's working capacity. Regular physical activity can reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure levels. Physical activity also reduces body fatness, which is associated with high blood pressure. By reducing body fatness, physical activity can help to prevent and control non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Physical activity helps to reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the body's ability to use calories. When physical activity is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases. By increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise helps to prevent back pain. Regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation and may prevent many forms...
