Monday, March 30, 2009

Health Tips for March 30

Health Tip: Getting Older and Weakened Immunity

As you age, your body often isn't able to protect you against disease as effectively as when you were younger.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these changes to the immune system that may occur as part of the aging process:
  • Decreased ability to protect against infection.
  • Decreased effectiveness and duration of vaccinations.
  • Increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
  • Decreased ability to heal from wounds and other injuries.
  • Decreased ability to detect and correct cell defects, which could raise the risk of certain cancers.
Health Tip: Bones, Muscles and Aging

Getting older means changes throughout your body, and the bones and muscles are no exception. So get them into shape, and help ward off certain effects of aging.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this advice:
  • Do lots of stretches. Stretching will help your muscles stay flexible.
  • Try some lightweight training to build up and strengthen your muscles.
  • Over time, getting regular exercise can help you retain muscle mass and help prevent weight gain.
  • Even occasional exercise can benefit blood pressure, heart health, and some studies indicate it might reduce your risk of cancer.
  • Getting just 30 minutes of exercise can boost your overall health. Try fun activities such as dancing and swimming.
If you haven't exercised before, talk to your doctor before you start.

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