COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Few medicines work as well as exercise
We all know we're supposed to exercise, to move our muscles and be strong.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about three-fourths of older adults are sedentary, despite informative articles insisting activity helps prevent many related ailments, from coronary artery disease to cognitive decline.
Dr. Sheldon Zinberg, founder of the Nifty After Fifty workout centers, insists people are reluctant to put a name to their problem:
"We're talking about sarcopenia, or age-related muscle wasting. All of us are familiar with the long words like osteoporosis or menopause, but, for whatever reason, we are not familiar with the major culprit that affects aging. Sarcopenia.
"Starting at about age 40, we lose 1 percent of our muscle mass each year. That accelerates to 1.5 percent at age 60, which means we're half as strong as we should be by age 80.
"Try it in this context If you weigh 150 pounds at 40, that's like doubling your body weight. Imagine carrying 150 pounds on your back!"
Zinberg operates 22 fitness centers in California, Arizona, Las Vegas and Texas.
Q. Seniors don't pay attention to the benefits of exercise?
A. No. They can improve their muscle strength from 48 to 100 percent although few make it to 100 percent. By improving sarcopenia, they also improve bone mineral density, cognitive decline. They will decrease falls and obesity, improve their glucose metabolism, decrease hypertension and diabetes. That's why some medical groups make exercise programs available to seniors.
Q. Isn't it the American College of Sports Medicine that said "exercise is medicine?"
A. Yes. That's why there are special exercise programs for chronic disease states such as disabling COPD and congestive heart failure.
Doctors are taught the value of exercise but not all of them internalize it. In one week, improved insulin sensitivity, decreased glucose and improved muscle metabolism of glucose can be measured.
There is no medicine more important to seniors than exercise. Why, exercise even reduces the likelihood of falls and fractures.
Q. So a walk every day is great?
A. A walk every day is good, but there is a difference between a customized exercise program or a group or club membership. The vast majority of seniors are not fitness savvy. They think anything is better than nothing. But if you really want bang for your buck, you need a customized program.
Q. Do you see exercise programs as being included in the new health care reform?
A. I can see prescribed fitness as part of that reform. I would hope so. Exercise is cheaper than any medicine you can prescribe.
Q. What makes working with a personal trainer or kinestheologist important?
A. Well, let's just take one exercise lifting weights. Increasing the stress when lowering the weight actually more rapidly increases muscle development. This is called "eccentric muscle training" and not many seniors know about that.
Of course, I believe in a customized, progressively improving exercise program that is computer-monitored to achieve maximum individual effect. Constantly evolving exercise programs are important as we gain more scientific evidence on the value of specific exercises.
Q. Do you have any Nifty After Fifty centers in Orange County?
A. In Garden Grove, Anaheim, Brea, Orange and Laguna Woods.
Q. Do you expect the boomers, just reaching 65, to be more attuned to staying in shape than their parents?
A. They certainly know what they should be doing. We'll have to wait and see if they are better at keeping in shape than many in the older generation.
Q. Because not everyone realizes "exercise is medicine"?
A. Right. Exercise is medicine.
We all know we're supposed to exercise, to move our muscles and be strong.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates about three-fourths of older adults are sedentary, despite informative articles insisting activity helps prevent many related ailments, from coronary artery disease to cognitive decline.
Dr. Sheldon Zinberg, founder of the Nifty After Fifty workout centers, insists people are reluctant to put a name to their problem:
"We're talking about sarcopenia, or age-related muscle wasting. All of us are familiar with the long words like osteoporosis or menopause, but, for whatever reason, we are not familiar with the major culprit that affects aging. Sarcopenia.
"Starting at about age 40, we lose 1 percent of our muscle mass each year. That accelerates to 1.5 percent at age 60, which means we're half as strong as we should be by age 80.
"Try it in this context If you weigh 150 pounds at 40, that's like doubling your body weight. Imagine carrying 150 pounds on your back!"
Zinberg operates 22 fitness centers in California, Arizona, Las Vegas and Texas.
Q. Seniors don't pay attention to the benefits of exercise?
A. No. They can improve their muscle strength from 48 to 100 percent although few make it to 100 percent. By improving sarcopenia, they also improve bone mineral density, cognitive decline. They will decrease falls and obesity, improve their glucose metabolism, decrease hypertension and diabetes. That's why some medical groups make exercise programs available to seniors.
Q. Isn't it the American College of Sports Medicine that said "exercise is medicine?"
A. Yes. That's why there are special exercise programs for chronic disease states such as disabling COPD and congestive heart failure.
Doctors are taught the value of exercise but not all of them internalize it. In one week, improved insulin sensitivity, decreased glucose and improved muscle metabolism of glucose can be measured.
There is no medicine more important to seniors than exercise. Why, exercise even reduces the likelihood of falls and fractures.
Q. So a walk every day is great?
A. A walk every day is good, but there is a difference between a customized exercise program or a group or club membership. The vast majority of seniors are not fitness savvy. They think anything is better than nothing. But if you really want bang for your buck, you need a customized program.
Q. Do you see exercise programs as being included in the new health care reform?
A. I can see prescribed fitness as part of that reform. I would hope so. Exercise is cheaper than any medicine you can prescribe.
Q. What makes working with a personal trainer or kinestheologist important?
A. Well, let's just take one exercise lifting weights. Increasing the stress when lowering the weight actually more rapidly increases muscle development. This is called "eccentric muscle training" and not many seniors know about that.
Of course, I believe in a customized, progressively improving exercise program that is computer-monitored to achieve maximum individual effect. Constantly evolving exercise programs are important as we gain more scientific evidence on the value of specific exercises.
Q. Do you have any Nifty After Fifty centers in Orange County?
A. In Garden Grove, Anaheim, Brea, Orange and Laguna Woods.
Q. Do you expect the boomers, just reaching 65, to be more attuned to staying in shape than their parents?
A. They certainly know what they should be doing. We'll have to wait and see if they are better at keeping in shape than many in the older generation.
Q. Because not everyone realizes "exercise is medicine"?
A. Right. Exercise is medicine.
1.Fat loss combined with toned, increased muscle mass equals much better breathing ability. Lugging around large amounts of excess body
body is harmful to the heart and makes breathing more difficult.
2. Exercise releases seratonin (the Happy Hormone). A good workout brings better breathing and raises your happiness factor for many hours after the exercise has been completed.
Always talk with your doc and use a program developed by a qualified trainer-if you can affort it.
Our HMO pays for our gym membership, as long as we participate.
Dale (tinster)