Nursing

Importance of Physical Activities in an Ageing Population

As people age many physiological changes occurs in the body. In addition, there are increase numbers of co-morbidity associated with the physiological changes in an ageing population. Keeping this into consideration, there are several pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches. A physical activity is one of the major non-pharmaceutical approaches in an ageing population and has various benefits. It is never too late to exercise. At any age physical activities have benefits over different preventable diseases. The benefits associated with physical activities are reducing blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, reducing the risk of stroke, prevent coronary heart disease and also reduce the risk of Alzheimer and Dementia (Berthel, Brechat, Kaltenbach, Lepretre, Lonsdorfer, & Vogel, 2009). It also helps to loose and maintain weight (Jonas, Liss, & Woolf, 2008). Overall, the moderate and regular exercise reduces the mortality rate in an ageing population (Berthel, Brechat, Kaltenbach, Lepretre, Lonsdorfer, & Vogel, 2009). Therefore, as a health care provider we should implement regular physical activities in an ageing population that leads to healthy ageing.
Physical activity is a vague term that includes both leisure time activities and activities of daily living (Ashe, Eng, Miller, & Noreau, 2008). According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2003 there were about 200 million of death which were contributed by sedentary life style (Ashe, Eng, Miller, & Noreau, 2008). When we analyse these data, it is significantly high number. Physical inactivity can lead to different diseases like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, frequent falls, coronary artery disease, stroke and pneumonia (Berthel, Brechat, Kaltenbach, Lepretre,   Lonsdorfer, & Vogel, 2009). As ageing population is growing rapidly at the same time the health complications are also increasing. This health complication... [continues]

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