We all should know by now that getting enough exercise is a vital part of staying healthy. What you may not know is that the older you get, the more important it is for you to work out regularly. As your body starts to change, you not only may experience hot flashes and mood swings, you’re also at a higher risk for dangerous diseases. The good news is that many menopausal symptoms can be helped or even stopped through regular physical activity.
One of the biggest concerns for women approaching menopause is the loss of bone mass. This can lead to osteoporosis and other serious consequences. Many doctors suggest getting plenty of calcium to help prevent bone deterioration, but this is just the first step. Getting regular, weight-bearing exercise is also essential for maintaining good bone health. If you’re not in very good shape, walking and other light exercise, can be enough to get started. You should eventually work yourself up to some resistance training. This is the best way to slow or even stop loss of bone mass. You might also want to consider adding flexibility training because having a limber body may actually prevent serious injuries.
Along with osteoporosis, women who have reached the age of menopause are also at an increased risk of developing heart disease. Many women assume that only men are at risk, but heart disease is the top killer of women as well as men. Additionally, some women are less likely to think that they’re having a heart attack, so they don’t get treatment as quickly. Regular aerobic exercise can do wonders for keeping your heart in good shape. Even if you aren’t going through menopause yet, getting regular exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy for a long time.
Another common symptom of menopause is mood swings. As estrogen levels fluctuate, so do your emotions. And unlike mood changes due to your menstrual cycle, menopausal mood fluctuations are much less predictable. Exercise can work to ease symptoms of depression, decrease the mood fluctuations including irritability. Exercise helps you to be more emotionally stable so you can worry more about the other important things in your life.
With the onset of menopause, many women gain weight. While it’s usually not a substantial amount, it can increase the risk of certain weight related diseases. Regular exercise can help you keep your weight in check, reducing the risk of serious health problems in the future.
If your biggest concern about menopause is the immediate physical symptoms, exercise is a great cure for that too. Many women notice a decrease in hot flashes and other physical symptoms when they go on a regular exercise program.
Sure, exercise takes some planning and work, but your health is worth is, so go out and get moving.
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