Get Active, Control Blood Pressure

According to new data, living an active lifestyle in middle age may help reduce serious ailments and chronic diseases later in life.

A joint study by physiologists in Texas and Japan offers strong indications that improvements in blood pressure control and vascular elasticity may improve cerebral blood flow regulation in middle-aged people.

A higher risk of stroke and dementia later in life, along with a greater risk of age-related chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, are linked to midlife arterial stiffness.

Aerobic exercise in midlife results in long-term health

Scientists conducting this study investigated how regular aerobic exercise during midlife could mitigate the aforementioned maladies by improving age-related deteriorations of cerebral blood flow regulation, short-term blood pressure control and arterial elasticity (a noninvasive measure of cardiovascular risk).

The study was conducted in 20 middle-aged athletes (ages 45 to 64) with at least 10 years of aerobic training, 20 adults younger than 45 and 20 middle-aged sedentary adults. Researchers defined regular aerobic exercise in this study as running, cycling, swimming or multimodal training with moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

According to the study, middle-aged endurance athletes have better control of blood pressure and higher arterial elasticity than sedentary adults in the same age group. These athletes also displayed comparable levels of these factors compared to young adults, thanks to regular aerobic exercise.

“Our findings have an important clinical implication,” said co-researcher Takashi Tarumi, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba, Japan. “Regular aerobic exercise during midlife may prevent these age-related chronic diseases and extend a healthy lifespan.”

Don’t Delay, Exercise Today

Whether you’re working from home, have a long commute, or somewhere in between, it’s not too late to start exercising.

If you drive to work, park at the far end of the lot and walk to your office. Instead of hopping on an elevator, take a brisk walk up and down the stairs.

If your office is close by, walk or bike to work.

Work from home? Take a break and jump on the treadmill or walk around the block.

Make time for exercise before or after work, or during your lunch break. Schedule time for your workouts on your calendar and treat them like important appointments.

Stop Joint Pain Before it Stops Your Activities

Staying active is essential for your health. If you are experiencing chronic pain, sometimes you need the help of a professional before the pain interrupts your active lifestyle.

You don’t have to live with joint pain or back pain. Our orthopedists specialize in treating chronic pain, arthritis, and many bone and joint conditions. Click here to see a list of specialists located at centers nationwide.