Heart Diseases Risk Factors that Can Be Eliminated or Modified - Essay Example

"Heart Diseases Risk Factors that Can Be Eliminated or Modified" is an outstanding example of a paper on wellness and lifestyle. 
Physical activity constitutes one vital component of healthy living and aging. Moreover, as one grows older, regular physical activity helps in disease management, energy boost, reversing signs of aging as well as maintenance of independence. Studies conducted by health organizations have shown a positive correlation between regular physical activity and improved health status such as control of cardiovascular-related diseases. The subsequent sections provide an insight into the benefits of regular exercise for the elderly; the types of heart disease risk factors that can be eliminated or modified as well as those that affect healthy aging.

Benefits of Regular exercise

Regular physical activities for older people play an important role in maintaining their strength energy and health. Studies by CDC recommend a moderate regiment of physical activity rather than a vigorous and strenuous option such as a 30-minute activity of walking or 45 minutes of sporting activity like playing volleyball. Engaging in regular exercise among elderly people contributes to a host of body and mind benefits. These include aiding in weight loss and maintenance since metabolism rates increase significantly and burn excess calories. Moreover, the occurrence or effect of illness and disease are minimized through exercise. For example, improved blood pressure, improved digestive functions, low risk to chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, obesity, colon cancer, cardiovascular complications, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Furthermore, seniors are able to achieve improved mobility, balance, and flexibility due to the energy boost gained from exercise. In addition, exercise contributes to mental health benefits such as an increase in self-confidence and improved mood. This is because exercise produces endorphins that enhance a positive feeling and reduce depression and sadness. The brain is also stimulated during exercise hence preventing cognitive or memory loss and dementia. Lastly, regular exercise results in improved sleep that is essential for better health among senior adults (Buttar & Li, 2005).

Heart Diseases Risk Factors that can be Eliminated or Modified

There are significant types of risk factors associated with heart diseases that have been identified by the CDC. These heart risk factors have been classified as modifiable and non- modifiable heart risk factors. CDC has defined modifiable heart risk factors as those conditions that can be affected by making changes in lifestyle whereas non-modifiable risk factors cannot be altered. Among the types of heart risk factors that can be modified or eliminated include physical inactivity, obesity, malnutrition, high blood pressure, alcohol abuse, tobacco smoking, high blood glucose concentrations, and high cholesterol (Buttar & Li, 2005).

Modifiable risk factors that Affect Healthy Aging

According to the National Society on Aging Society, the majority of aging American adults are at risk of developing chronic heart complications because of their dietary and lifestyle habits. Some of the cardiovascular diseases include stroke, hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmias. Consequently, statistics show that 89 percent of people between the ages of 51 to 61 possess at least one modifiable risk factor. Furthermore, 19 percent of the same cohorts possess three or more modifiable heart risk factors. Among, the modifiable heart risk factors affecting healthy aging include obesity with about 61% of overweight seniors between ages 51 and 61. Moreover, physical inactivity affects nearly half of the population and more pronounced as individuals’ age. Statistics show that 48% of aging people do not engage in insufficient exercise. Furthermore, tobacco smoking has been identified as posing a serious threat to healthy aging. More than one-quarter of senior adults between ages 51 to 61 smoke cigarettes with 63% recorded as smokers during a certain point in their lives (Buttar & Li, 2005).