Taking Control Of Your Health

You can live your life to the fullest! The best way to thrive is to take care of your body and your health. 

 

Physical Activity

Regual physical activity is important for good health. Physical activity can help you:

• Maintain weight
• Sleep better 
• Improve your membery
• Help lower LDL cholesterol
• Help Raise HDL cholesterol
• Reduce risk for type 2 diabetes
• Reduce risk for heart attack and stroke
• Reduce risk for several types of cancer                        
• Reduce arthritis pain
• Reduce risk for osteoporosis and falls
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety [1]

 

For better health the ideal goal is at least 150 minutes per week of moderateintensity physical activity. You can achieve this by adding in 20-25 minutes of daily physical activities. 

Physical Activity- What does Moderate and Vigorous intensity look like?

Moderate Intensity:

A good way to tell if your physical activity is at a moderate intensity level is if your breathing and heart rate is noticeably faster- but you can still carry on a conversation. Activities might include:

• Light yard work
• Light snow shoveling
• Biking 
• Walking Briskly (a 15 minute mile)
• Actively playing with kids

Vigorous Intensity:

A good way to tell if your physical activity is at a vigorous intensity level is if your breathing and heart rate is substantially faster- and you are breathing too hard to have a conversation. Activities might include:

• Running or jogging
• Swimming laps
• Rollerblading/skating at a brisk pace
• Cross-county skiing
• (Most) Competitive sports (football, basketball, soccer etc.)
• Jumping rope [1]