Exercise
Stay Active with RWJBarnabas Health
Exercise plays a critical role in our health—in both for our physical and mental/emotional well-being. Many patients find it challenging to fit in structured exercise regimens into their busy day-to-day schedules but even low-to-moderate intensity activities for as little as 30 minutes a day has proven to beneficial for adults.
Some examples of low-to-moderate intensity exercise include:
- Yard work
- Climbing stairs
- Pleasure walking
- Gardening
- Dancing
- Housework (moderate-to-heavy)
Aerobic Activities
For patients who have trouble fitting 30 minutes of low-to-moderate intensity activities into their daily schedules, they can similarly benefit from more vigorous, less-frequent exercise. These patients should consider regular aerobic activity three or four times a week in 30-to-60-minute sessions.
Examples of these activities include:
- Brisk walking ("power walking")
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Jumping rope
- Running or Jogging
- Roller skating
Why Is Exercise So Important?
Exercise isn't just beneficial because it helps us maintain our weight, it can have many additional health benefits as well. The American Heart Association has identified various positive effects—both physical and mental—of maintaining a routine exercise regimen.
Just some of these benefits include:
- Improves circulation
- Prevents high blood pressure
- Prevents bone loss
- Controls weight
- Improves/maintains cholesterol levels
- Releases tension/Reduces stress
- Increases energy level
- Increases muscle strength
- Improves quality of sleep
- Helps counter anxiety and depression
Creating a routine exercise program for yourself can help ward off serious health complications later in life as well, including stroke and heart attack. Maintained consistently over time, exercise can help adults stay independent and active as they become older, as well.
The same can be said for children who are introduced to healthy, active lifestyles early in life. These children have a better chance of avoiding obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health complications. For more information about the benefits of exercise and how to incorporate fitness into your life, speak with your health care provider at RWJBarnabas Health today.
