Oldest adults who walk briskly reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. The benefits of physical activity for heart health are well-known. However, minimal research has been done on the population of people 75 years and older.
STUDY: A group of 4,207 men and women with an average age 73 years. All 4,207 participants had no cardiovascular disease at pre-testing. Each participant was followed and studied for 10 years.
FINDINGS: Individuals who walked at a pace of three miles per hour had a lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared to those who walked at a pace of less than two miles per hour. Also those who who walked an average of seven blocks per day had lower risk of hearty disease, stroke and CVD when compared to those who walked only five blocks per week.
People who performed activities such as mowing the lawn, raking, gardening, swimming, bicycling and hiking also had a lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and CVD, when compared to those who did not engage in leisure-time activities.
COMMENT: “While national guidelines recommend that older adults engage in regular physical activity, surprisingly few studies have evaluated potential cardiovascular benefits after age 75, a rapidly growing age group,” said the Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. “Our findings confirm a beneficial relationship between walking and leisure activities and cardiovascular disease late in life.
“These results are especially relevant because, with advancing age, the ability to perform vigorous types of activity often decreases. Our findings support the importance of continuing light to moderate exercise to improve health across the lifespan.”
TAKE ACTION: Join the Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S. (Seniors Tracking Exercise in Perfect Strides)
Meet us at the Mall on Monday, February 1st anytime between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM to sign up for the Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S. 12 Week Walking Challenge to earn rewards. The goal of this program is to increase cardiovascular activity throughout your week.
HOW TO JOIN:
SOURCE: Circulation, online before print (November 4, 2015) doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018323
-Kim Viviano
FINDINGS: Individuals who walked at a pace of three miles per hour had a lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared to those who walked at a pace of less than two miles per hour. Also those who who walked an average of seven blocks per day had lower risk of hearty disease, stroke and CVD when compared to those who walked only five blocks per week.
People who performed activities such as mowing the lawn, raking, gardening, swimming, bicycling and hiking also had a lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and CVD, when compared to those who did not engage in leisure-time activities.
COMMENT: “While national guidelines recommend that older adults engage in regular physical activity, surprisingly few studies have evaluated potential cardiovascular benefits after age 75, a rapidly growing age group,” said the Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. “Our findings confirm a beneficial relationship between walking and leisure activities and cardiovascular disease late in life.
“These results are especially relevant because, with advancing age, the ability to perform vigorous types of activity often decreases. Our findings support the importance of continuing light to moderate exercise to improve health across the lifespan.”
TAKE ACTION: Join the Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S. (Seniors Tracking Exercise in Perfect Strides)
Meet us at the Mall on Monday, February 1st anytime between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM to sign up for the Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S. 12 Week Walking Challenge to earn rewards. The goal of this program is to increase cardiovascular activity throughout your week.
HOW TO JOIN:
- Register on or before February 1st to confirm participation. You can download the Registration Form online at our website and then mail, email, fax, or drop it off at our office. You can register at the Mall on February 1st at the Healthy Aging Association booth, which will be located through door #30/Security entrance by JCPenny.
- Participants must be at least 60 years and over to earn rewards.
- Miles walked are self reported and need to be turned in once every four weeks to Healthy Aging during the challenge.
- You can track your miles walked outside of the Mall as well. Walk before or after class, in your neighborhood, or with a friend at the Mall.
- Healthy Aging Association and Central Valley Medical Group will be out at the Mall once every 4 weeks on the following dates: February 29th, March 28th, and April 25th to collect miles walked, provide encouragement, and assist you in your walking goals. For more details, please visit our website at: http://www.healthyagingassociation.org/young-at-heart-steps.html
SOURCE: Circulation, online before print (November 4, 2015) doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018323
-Kim Viviano