Health Habits

improve your health, habit by habit

Posts Tagged ‘aarp’

Researchers Find the Answer to Senior Citizen Heart Health

October 26th, 2009

Researchers have discovered a cutting edge technique to help senior citizens improve the elasticity of their arteries – thereby reducing their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Led by Dr. Kenneth Madden, the researchers were able to reduce arterial stiffness by 15 to 20% in only 3 months time.

But wait, it gets better.

Unlike most cardiovascular treatments, the cost of this new cure-all is…….nothing, zero, nada, rien…it’s free.

It’s free because the treatment is:

Exercise

Wow!!!

Exercise instead of drugs…who would have thought of that???

The Study

Dr. Madden divided his test subjects into two groups.

The first group performed one hour of vigorous physical activity for one hour, three times a week for three months.
The second group continued to live a sedentary lifestyle.

Subjects were classified as sedentary at the beginning of the study but gradually increased their fitness levels until they were working at 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate, using treadmills and cycling machines. They were supervised by a certified exercise trainer.

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And after three months, the exercise group was healthier, while the sedentary group wasn’t.

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So, as a public service to all of my 65+ readers (and those readers with friends & family who are 65+), I will be posting “no equipment necessary” workouts geared toward trainees who are boomer age and older.

Enjoy

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BTW, this post is for my Dad…who should be outside right now getting some exercise

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Toronto By-Law Nazi Accosts Senior Citizens for Exercising in a Public Park

October 12th, 2009

Most days, I love living in Toronto.

It’s a great city. All the culture you could want and you can still walk down the street at night.

But, yesterday, as I was reading my morning newspapers over a cup of coffee, I came upon this story….

Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

…and it pissed me off.

Why in the world would a city bylaw officer harass senior citizens for exercising in a public park?

Why harass anyone for exercising in a public park?

As a nation, Canada is getting fatter year after year.

Our provincial health care systems are being bankrupted by chronic diseases brought on by the same lifestyle choices that cause obesity.

So, why would the city discourage physical activity by ticketing citizens to exercise in public parks that they already support with their tax dollars?

Especially when you consider that way back in 2005, Toronto city council created Get Your Move On…

an initiative formed between public, voluntary and private sector organizations to address the current epidemic of physical inactivity by achieving increased physical activity levels in Toronto by raising public awareness, creating more opportunities and reducing barriers to enable all residents to be physically active where they live, work and play.

This commitment was stated again in 2008 when Mayor David Miller once again joined with those same members of the private, public and voluntary sectors to re-brand Get Your Move On as Get Active Toronto.

At this time, the mayor et al signed a Declaration of Commitment to a physically active Toronto.

Partnership Commitment Statement
As members of the Get your move on partnership, we commit to working together with individuals, community groups, agencies, institutions, businesses and all levels of government to achieve increased physical activity among all residents.

To accomplish this Get your move on partners will:

Promote healthy active living for all Toronto residents, beginning with children, youth, their families and other influencers. Champion the right of residents to have the opportunity for daily physical activity.

Seek innovative, creative solutions to reduce systemic barriers to physical activity.

Lead by example, undertaking initiatives within our organizations and communities to foster significant increases in physical activity and health. Develop and promote a civic culture where active living is part of everyday life.

Involve and support individuals, groups and organizations across sectors to build a movement that promotes physical activity for all Toronto residents.

Our commitment will increase opportunities and access for physical activity and contribute to lasting change for the people of Toronto.

Arrrggghhhh!!!!!

I am mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.

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Thanks to Toronto Sun columnist Sue-Ann Levy for breaking this shameful story.

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Rich Old White People lead the Fitness Parade

July 25th, 2008

I'm Number 1...heh heh

According to data collected from the annual Health Surveys for England between 1997 and 2006, rich old white people are more likely to participate in sporting activities than other demographic groups.

Even worse, the fitness participation gap between rich and poor, black and white, old and young appears to be growing wider.

So it seems that while more and more lily-white baby boomers are trying to get fit, the rest of the general population is getting fatter and lazier.

Fountain of youth or Growth Hormone face?

I am sure that there are lots of socio-economic reasons for these results, but this survey paints a very strange picture of our healthcare future.

Thanks and respect to BMJ-British Medical Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS for the original article.

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