Lowering Blood Pressure

Participation in physical activity has been shown to have many health benefits for older adults; this study does not provide strong support that it protects against cognitive decline. Reports have been made that physical activity may help guard against stroke and coronary heart disease, both of which may be associated with the development of dementia. Some studies were either limited in their scope or had short follow-up times. In all they find that for older adults, physical activity alone may not protect against cognitive decline. (By Charnicia E. Huggins: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforseniors.html)

Sub-Point a:According to CDC.gov in there June, 2015 issue on physical activity, Regular physical activity can help you keep your thinking and judge mental skills sharp. Research shows that doing aerobic exercises can give you great mental benefits. Some scientific evidence also have shown even if you were to do lower levels of exercise it still will be beneficial to you.

3. Reduces Health Risks: Walking moderately for 30 minutes a day reduces risks for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. These conditions relate to heart disease and stroke.

Blood pressure in our blood vessels is monitored by the baroreceptors. These receptors send messages to the cardio regulatory center of the medulla oblongata to regulate our blood pressure every minute. In order for blood to be delivered to all organs and tissues, our cardiovascular system must always maintain adequate blood pressure. If the blood pressure drops too low, these organs will not receive an adequate of nourishing blood. Also if the pressure goes too high, the walls of the arteries will stretch and increased activity within the baroreceptor, information will then be sent through the nerves to the cardio regulatory center within the medulla which will responds by initiating the mechanisms that decrease the blood pressure to a normal

After reading this article my question of how twenty minutes of walking each day is beneficial was answered, this is because a little amount of exercise increases the body’s anti-inflammatory response. The anti-inflammatory

Getting up, getting out, and being active are some of the best things someone can do to increase their level of fitness. Even when I do not feel like going out for a run, I can still motivate myself to at least go for a walk. By doing so, my body has become accustomed to daily activity. I have learned that no matter what the intensity level may be, being physically active is one the best things you can do for your body. Another way walking has improved my lifestyle is through my daily planning and time management skills. Before walking I would sleep in during the summer, often wasting hours of my day doing nothing. Now, I get up early and go for a walk or run. Once I return home, I am too energized to go back to sleep or to be lazy all day, I accomplish many more tasks and I make plans with friends. It is a nice feeling to know that you have had a productive day. Furthermore, as I mentioned in my last journal, walking is a great social activity. It is easy to get groups of friends and family to go out on walks. I have had great conversations during these outings and am I always pleased with the time I got to spend with my walking

Hein completed a meta-analysis and found that exercising for a mean duration of 23 weeks has positive effects on cognition and behavior. Furthermore physical activity is both therapeutic to those already diagnosed with dementia, and associated with a 28% reduced risk of developing dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and it is characterized by development of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that cause the hippocampus to atrophy. Physical activity also decreases the risk of development of Alzheimer’s dementia by targeting both the neurofibrillary tangles, and senile

Exercise is a most definite critical allaction to a well-being lifestyle. Doing such physical procedures keeps one highly appeased as it gives a feel of a vigor state on the outside body. Nevertheless, exercise does not only benefit the outside appearance and health. In fact, exercise has many positive benefits on the human brain as well. Physical activity can be advantageous and profitable to the brain by stimulating the brain’s growth, conflicting depression and anxiety, retaining memory, and lastly concentration improvement.

One way in which researchers have shown that exercise can benefit cognitive skills is with children’s memory. A study by Kamijo et al. showed that physical activity can improve working memory. Working memory, as defined by Santrock, is where “individuals manipulate and assemble information when they make

Podewils et al. (2005) found that it is possible that physical activities decreases the risk of dementia and conserve cognitive function. The study calculated the leisure-time energy expenditure and an activity index reflecting number of different physical activities of 3, 375 men and women over the age of 65 that did not suffer from dementia that participated in Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study. After a mean follow-up of 5.4 years, 480 of the participants has developed dementia. After multivariate adjustment, the study found that individuals who participated in 4 or more activities had a lower risk of dementia the those who engaged in one or less. Laurin et al. (2001), Scarmeas et al. (2001) and Larson et al. (2006), also, found similar relationship between physical exercise and dementia in people age of 65 and older. They all found that regular physical activity reduce the risk of dementia and/or preserve cognitive functions. Up to this point we saw evidence that physical exercise can prevent the decline of cognitive functions in later life, but that does not mean that it improves them.

A study in 2001 showed slowed rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. When young and old people were tested, the brains of older people who exercised functioned as well as the brains of young people who did not exercise. In older women, walking also slows the rate of mental decline. Between 30 and 90, 15 to 25 percent of the brain tissue can be lost. Some losses are significant, such as the gray matter, which is associated with learning and memory. The natural deterioration of gray matter was much higher in older people who didn’t exercise versus those who did. Additionally, balance, muscles, and joints tend to function at a less higher level than in previous years without

One of the best ways seniors can lower their blood pressure is through lifestyle changes. Check out these four ways seniors can make changes to their lifestyle that will reduce their blood pressure naturally:

Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical exercise every day. Various studies have found that the long-term effects of exercise are numerous. Among its many benefits, exercise helps increase brain neuron growth, enhance cognitive control over behavior, improve working memory, and improve academic performance in both adults and children. These are all executive functions related to the prefrontal cortex.

In conclusion, greater participation in physical activity is associated with an overall superior cognitive function. Advanced age is associated with a decline in cognitive function that threatens the quality of life and independence. However, the studies presented provide evidence that exercise can reduce these effects. Lifestyle factors can play a tremendous role in slowing cognitive

The articles by Erikson et al., Gatz, Korol et al., and Draganski et al. explore the concept of increased physical activity and/or mental activity having effects on the cognitive function and development or deterioration of the brain as we age. Although I agree that physical exercise is critical in increasing cognitive function because of the health benefits it provides, as well as the increased blood flow and circulation throughout the body, I ultimately believe that a healthy brain is not achieved solely by physical exercise or mental exercise, but both. I think there is a link between physical and mental exercise, and that the combination of these two activities creates higher cognitive functioning of the mind as well as the body. The mind and body come together and meet to make an overall healthy individual.