IF YOU HAVE BEEN INACTIVE FOR A TIME PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE UNDERTAKING AN EXERCISE REGIME
EXERCISE
Keeping physically active has many benefits for your health. Regular exercise can
• Help you feel better about yourself and reduce stress
• Improve your sleep
• Reduce your risk of depression and dementia in later life
• Reduce your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes
• Help to control diabetes
• Reduce your risk of developing heart disease
• Increase levels of ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Promote bone density to protect against osteoporosis
• Have beneficial effects if you have arthritis and lower back pain
• Help to maintain a healthy weight in combination with a balanced diet
If it’s been a while since you last exercised start by doing activity for 10 minutes at a time – a couple of sessions a day to reach the 30 minutes a day target.
• Begin with gentle activities. Your cardiovascular system can adapt to slow and progressive changes.
• Exercise indoors during the winter. When venturing outside, dress in layers to keep warm and store your body heat and wear a hat. Keep your hands and feet warm too, as they lose heat quickly.
• Avoid sudden exertion when outside in cold weather.
• Make it fun – doing exercise is much easier to sustain if you enjoy it, so consider enjoyable activities like dancing.
• CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY EXERCISE