About two-thirds of Americans over 50 are overweight, and many overweight, older Americans are prime candidates for heart disease.
What better motivation could there be for adding regular senior cardio workouts to your fitness regimen?
Fox reports that senior workouts can help you feel younger and lengthen your life.
Not only that, the same report suggests that sweating through a workout may help to prevent cancer and diabetes.
You don’t need to join a gym to get your heart and whole cardiovascular system in order. In fact, many experts suggest starting off slowly, on your own, with your doctor’s guidance.
Here are some things to consider:
1. Start as slowly as you need to. Walk for five minutes … then ten. Do chores like raking, sweeping, or vacuuming. They can get the heart pumping as well as anything. Don’t be too ambitious right off the bat.
2. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. Drink water frequently even when you’re not exercising–to the tune of about 8-10 glasses per day.
3. Take precautions. Use any safety equipment recommended for the activity you choose–especially if it’s cycling. Always wear a helmet for activities with any possibility of head injury.
4. Gradually build up your endurance, but don’t overdo it. You should never be so out of breath that you can’t talk. If you’re dizzy or have chest pain while working out, reduce your level of activity.
5. Low-impact activities reduce your chance of injury. Swimming (or walking in the pool), riding a stationary bicycle, and gardening are excellent low-impact senior cardio activities. If you choose a higher-impact activity, make sure you have adequate protective footwear.
6. Start out on flat surfaces. Don’t try cycling or jogging uphill, climbing stairs, etc., until your physician agrees you’re ready to handle it.
7. Be time-conscious. It takes about 10 minutes of cardio workout to get the desired benefits. Except when you’re starting out, try to work out for no less than 10 minutes. Once you’re in tip-top shape, you should try to work out at least 30 minutes a day.
8. Supplement your workouts with a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar, low-salt senior diet.
9. Have fun. Remember you’re getting fit to feel better, not worse. Find heart-healthy activities you love–and friends who love the same activities.
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Of course, staying fit is likely to help keep your health care costs low. Along the same lines, you’ll find Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Advantage can help keep your health care costs low, too, by helping fill the many gaps in Original Medicare coverage.
How do you keep your heart healthy? Please leave a comment telling us about your favorite senior cardio workout!
Contact MedicareMall to find the right health care plan for you.
Senior Fitness – Cardio Workouts © 2012 MedicareMall.com