Exercise declared best medicine for older women

LONDON (Web desk) - For women over age 50, daily exercise can be prescribed as medicine to reduce the risk of death, BBC reported.

According to researchers, in addition to conventional treatments for physical and mental health, doctors should prescribe tailored, moderate to high intensity exercise programmes for older women.

When once we thought that 30 minutes of mild exercise a day was enough to improve health, research is now telling that older women should be doing at least 30-45 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise five times a week.

Studies had shown that high intensity exercise over a sedentary lifestyle significantly reduced the risk of death.

Older adults who undertake regular physical activity also report significantly less disability, better physical function and that is regardless of their body mass.

The most active women are more likely to survive than the least physically active women.

The high-intensity exercise is not only good for physical health but also brain health.

Doctors should develop exercise programmes that are home-based and easy to incorporate as part of everyday activities.