Physical inactivity - A complete no even in old age

It is a general human tendency to put in optimal efforts during work life years to ensure a comfortable and relaxed old age. In an endeavour to maintain good health, people balance their work life with right amount of recreation and exercise. Nevertheless, with aging the desire of relaxation becomes predominant and at times, side tracks the importance of exercise or simple physical activities for that matter.But the shocking fact reveals that too much of physical inactivity is a curse rather than boon that claims 3.2 million deaths per year globally.
It is already known that regular physical activity reduces the incidence of death from all causes or due to heart disease in middle-aged people. But whether benefits of exercise would also extend to older people still needs a thorough investigation. A recently published study assessed whether regular leisure-time physical activity could reduce deaths from all causes as well as from those attributed to heart diseases. For this purpose, researchers analysed the data of 2465 elderly people (aged 65-74 years) who had participated in a national health study conducted in Finland. Physical inactivity even in old age is as good as a curse with a bad impact on the health of heart leading to death at times. A recent study conducted in elderly people revealed that enjoying a sedentary lifestyle might gradually lead to problems such as elevated blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol levels, increased weight and increased risk of blood clots. All of these burden the heart in long run and might at times be lethal. It would therefore be wise to break the sedentary lifestyle pattern with short spells of leisurely walks if not more.
Follow-up revealed that the risk of heart disease and death from all causes (including from events such as strokes or heart attacks) was lower in people who engaged into moderate as well as high-levels of physical activity. Physical activity improves cardiac health in several ways. Maintaining body weight, stabilizing blood sugar levels, lowering blood pressure and improving the ratio of bad-to-good cholesterol in our body along with a reduction in the risk of blood clots in the blood vessels are some of the benefits of physical activity that translate into a healthy heart.
Senior citizens who have maintained at least moderate levels of physical activity are surely reaping its benefits. But this study has a loud message for those elderly who indulge into a sedentary lifestyle (sitting for long periods, and less of walking or other simple physical activities). Such elderly must increase their leisure-time physical activity. Regular short strolls around their residence are good enough to break the unhealthy practice and to improve the health substantially.

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