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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Team Franciscan Center: A Dip in the Pool Does a Body Good!






Chris Quigley, Pool Supervisor


Swimming reduces blood pressure and improves artery health according to a study in the American Journal of Cardiology. Previous studies have found similar advantages from walking exercises, but this was the first to demonstrate swimming’s vascular health benefits for older adults. Because swimming puts less stress on joints and the body’s cooling mechanisms than many other exercises, it is an ideal activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that swimming is the second most popular sports activity in the United States. It's an aerobic activity that some people see as just plain fun while others swim for exercise or in competitions. Swimming is an activity that can be safely enjoyed by people of all ages

Activities such as swimming, jogging and dancing are endurance exercises. These moderate-intensity level activities benefit your heart and lungs. The National Institute on Aging, NIH, recommends beginning an activity such as swimming in even five-minute intervals if necessary. Gradually increase the amount of time in the activity until you can do at least 10 minutes of swimming at a time -- the amount of time the NIH advises is needed to get the heart and lung benefits of the activity. Your goal should be to build up your time in this endurance activity to 30 minutes. The CDC points out that swimming can lead to improved health for people with heart disease and diabetes, no matter their age. The aerobic activity of swimming also decreases the risk of developing chronic diseases. So, why not take a dip in the pool...have fun & be healthy!


Information taken from www.livestrong.com and the Wall Street Journal 2/14/12.)


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