Hopefully, now that we’re over the hump of 2022, you’re sticking to that New Year’s Resolution of getting more exercise this year! Adding extra physical activity to your everyday activities is one resolution we should all be putting into action. This is especially true for seniors, many of whom take a number of medications for various health problems.
Remarkably, recent research has shown that doctor-approved senior exercise routines can be as helpful as typically-prescribed medications in preventing or treating many of the leading causes of death. In one study, researchers compared and contrasted the effectiveness of physical exercise vs. medication. The findings consistently showed that both senior exercise and medications virtually showed the same exact results in lowering deaths in individuals who had previously been identified as having a range of typical and serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
For example, the research found that people with heart disease who exercised but didn’t use commonly-prescribed medications, like angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, statins, or antiplatelet drugs, had a similar risk of dying from — or surviving — cardiovascular disease as people who were taking those medications.
Researchers also traced how seldomly physicians “prescribe” exercising as an effective medical intervention. Huseyin Naci, a graduate student at the London School of Economics and Political Science, along with Dr. John Ioannidis, director of the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the Stanford University School of Medicine, worked jointly on the study, determining that, according to Naci, “We are not suggesting that anyone stop taking their medications. But maybe people could think long and hard about their lifestyles and talk to their doctors about whether exercise could and should be incorporated into their care.”
At Happier Home Care, we love helping seniors stay as active as they can, while achieving the best possible quality of life. As the most trusted provider of Burbank home care and care in nearby areas, we are proud to offer transportation and accompaniment to physical fitness classes as well as companionship to encourage, motivate, and make fitness fun. We also have many other home care services that are specifically personalized to meet each individual’s unique health and wellness goals.
Contact us online or at 818-651-6679 to learn more about how we can help improve overall health and wellbeing for a senior you love! Whether the need is for just a couple of hours of help each week, full-time, 24-hour care, or anything in between, a perfectly matched care provider can supply the perfect level of care to help a senior you love thrive in the comfort of home.