Newsletter #12
Hello Friends
Recently I went to the NSCA Personal Trainer Conference in Las Vegas. One of the seminars was about aging and the improvements in health through exercise in seniors ages 70 - 90+
We are living longer
Some of the problems with aging are:
- 40% of people over 65 are functionally limited
- 42% have arthritis, 39% hypertension, 27% heart disease, 12% arteriosclerosis, 8% diabetes
- 33% of seniors are prone to falling 30% of those lose independence
- Many cannot perform Activities of Daily Living because they lack physical strength and stamina
- Longer recoveries and hospital stays are required
Cost of falls in Elderly / The Costs of Fall-Related Injuries
- In 1994, the average direct cost for a fall injury was $1,400 for a person over the age of 65.
- The total direct cost of all fall injuries for people age 65 and older in 1994 was $20.2 billion.
- By 2020, the cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $32.4 billion
- Assuming 5% inflation and the growing number of hip fractures, the total annual cost of these injuries may reach $240 billion by 2025 (studies say this is preventable)
What is Quality of Life?
There are many definitions; however, I feel it is best described as the ability for an individual to function at one's optimal level in order to maintain both physical and mental independence and emotional well being for the length of one's life?
Questions to ask yourself:
Will I still be able to enjoy the same activities I always have had? (run, golf, dance, tennis, swim, etc.)
Will I have the independence I am used to or will need to depend on others?
How to achieve the quality in life we all seek:
Exercise is a means to increase and maintain physical health by increasing muscular strength, flexibility, balance, power and cardio respiratory endurance.
Exercise will empower you to maintain your physical Independence throughout your life, increasing your overall state of physical fitness and emotional well being.
Exercise will enhance your state of emotional well being through social interactions with others that enjoy the same activities.
Lack of exercise and aging:
People die from inactivity, not just from aging. We know that as people age, they lose muscle, their immunities weaken and because of their weakened immunity, they are more likely to die of infectious diseases or cancers. As you age, you lose your ability to kill germs because of lack of muscle. When a germ gets into your body, you must make proteins called antibodies and cells to kill these germs. However, antibodies and cells are made from protein, and the only place that you can store extra protein is in your muscles. When you have large muscles, you can take the protein from muscles and make antibodies and cells. When you have small muscles, you lack sources of amino acids to make proteins, and your immunity is inadequate to kill germs. You also need antibodies to control cancer cells, so with loss of protein comes a loss of antibodies and increased susceptibility to suffer cancer.
When your skeletal muscles are small, so is your heart muscle. Anything that can affect your heart can kill a weak heart, while a strong heart may be able to withstand arteriosclerosis and infections. Aging does not cause muscles to get smaller; lack of exercise causes muscles to get smaller.
You can exercise into your nineties without quitting or getting injured, so that you can retain muscle mass, keep up your immunity and live longer and healthier.
It's never too late to start an exercise program:
First check with your doctor, because intense exercise can hurt a person with a heart problem. See a doctor or a physical therapist at the first sign of pain because of movement.
Share these facts with someone you care about or use them as a helpful reminder
Best Wishes for continued good health,
David White
david@maximizefitness.com
Please let me know if there is anyone else that may benefit from future E-mails I would be glad to add him or her to the list.
Any questions regarding training or this newsletter please E-mail the above address or call
213-760-3144
