Who want's to live forever? - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Who want's to live forever?

Ianc2 profile image
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Research from 4.5 million Strava users has found that the most active age group in the UK is the over 40s. Meanwhile, Sport England say running is up a staggering 97 per cent in the over-55s, with cycling up 59 per cent, and Nuffield Health have found people in their 60s make time for exercise more than any other age group. While WGSN, a global trend forecasting agency, has dubbed the ‘Ageless Athlete’ a trend to watch in 2019.

And it’s never too late to start. A flurry of studies last year seemed to show that exercising in middle age – even if you’ve never been active before – is the elixir of youth. One, published in the European Heart Journal, found that sedentary, middle-aged people who took up aerobic exercise for six months developed longer telomeres - the tiny caps on the end of cells that shorten as we get older. Scientists generally refer to the length of people’s telomeres as a sign of how quickly they are ageing.

Likewise, another study published in the journal Circulation found that middle-aged people who began a two year long program of brisk walking or jogging for 30 minutes 4 to 5 times a week, were able to reverse age-related stiffening of their arteries.

Another study from Harvard showed that 3 short 20 minute sessions of weight training was the most effective in getting rid of belly fat

The information above was compiled by the reporter Anna Magee writing in the lifestyle section of the Daily telegraph today. She assembled the information above and goes on to look at ' how low impact steady state cardio LISS exercise is much less damaging, especially in conjunction with stretching exercises', according to the University of Bath.

I worked all my life and made it through to enjoy my retirement which I am enjoying So What do you think

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Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2
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Sceptical I guess. Seems to me like a business/industry promotion for those who have some spare cash to splash around.

Then again the old adage, lies, damn lies and statistics comes to mind.

Be interesting to see the stats for running and cycling relative to the increase in AF or other arrythmias.

MarkS profile image
MarkS

The problem with LISS (Low Impact Steady State) is that sessions take 40-60 mins where as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is much faster and they achieve the same results. I do a couple of HIIT sessions a week on my bike going up a hill in the village as fast as I can for 30 secs then round and do it again a couple of times. That takes 10 mins and I don't bother to change if it's not too hot.

Having said that I also take the dog for walks which do last 40-60 mins!

To answer your question, I would hate to live for ever. I do however want to keep my active lifespan as long as possible and my inactive life as short as possible!

wilsond profile image
wilsond

I was talking about this just last night,exercising with AFib and Flutter. I used to swim a lot but found it made me to off on one of I did anything more than a very ladylike breaststroke,and didnt feel it was beneficial. I am wary of pushing myself too much. I do have a large garden and allotment which I tend,not heavy digging ,but plan to do low impact exercise at home while I wait for Spring.I

Are there any any suggestions for indoor exercises anyone knows? I do live by a large wood but wary of walking alone and everyone else I know still works....

Thank you for the post.

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2 in reply to wilsond

Do you have a local ramblers group?

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply to Ianc2

Thats an idea! Ill check out the community centre. Thanks

Yeah, my mum is 73 and runs rings around most people half her age.

She does yoga, swims 2 or 3 times a week, and i mean really swims! and goes to a gym .

She also walks and walks and walks, on saturday she did an 8 mile round trip to have a coffee with one of her friends.

She doesn't want to live forever, but she want's to enjoy what she has and not end up a burden on family

DK81 profile image
DK81

Thank you for the post. Just one point: "........ low impact steady state cardio LISS exercise is much less damaging ......." This section of the text is not clear; LISS compared with what?

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2 in reply to DK81

High intensity training in which you go flat out for a period of time and then relax, eg spinning sessions on a bike in your local gym, or see what marks said earlier.

LindaDaisy profile image
LindaDaisy

You have to adjust you exercise type to your condition. I am not allowed to do aerobic, high intensity exercise so checking with your cardiologist is a good idea.

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

The part I identified with most was the study published in the journal 'Circulation' detailing the two year study of brisk walking over two years, something I have more or less done for the last three years. I only wish I had started it 30 years ago.

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