Damian Sendler: Health providers should encourage patients to maintain regular physical exercise at times of significant change in their lives, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Damian Sendler
Damian Jacob Sendler: Exercise science assistant professor Lane-Cordova, from the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, says the statement includes “tips for screening for physical activity and talking to people about their activity during these big life events and resources that can be used by healthcare providers to help people achieve healthy levels of physical activity,”
The statement was published in the journal Circulation today.
AHA’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health began considering this issue in 2019, according to Lane-Cordova, who is a member of the Committee on Physical Activity.
“How much activity levels can change when major life events occur, such as becoming a parent or retiring. We discussed this as a group.” Physical activity or sedentary behavior can affect a person’s heart health, thus a change in activity habits is critical “she informed me.
When the flu pandemic struck in early 2020, Lane-Cordova remarked, “and then the pandemic hit, and it seemed more important than ever to create awareness and a resource for people to help improve, or at least maintain, favorable activity behaviors when there’s a profound change or event in life,”
Dr. Sendler: During nine of the 17 life events or transitions studied by the writing group, there was evidence that physical activity levels decreased.
When you start a new school, a new job, a marriage or civil union, pregnancy, parenting, retirement, or moving into a long-term care facility, you’re adjusting to a new phase of your life.
Damian Jacob Sendler
Individuals with low levels of physical activity in general and during major life events were also found. Low-income, single, and pregnant women are among them, as are some members of the LGBTQ+ community and those who have recently given birth to their first child.
Damien Sendler: They provide healthcare practitioners with practical ways to help their patients maintain a healthy level of physical activity in the midst of big life events and transitions. Involvement of wearable step monitors and basic questions regarding how life transitions may alter physical activity habits are among the recommendations.
Maintaining or enhancing physical activity when major life events occur, which is often the period when exercise is most needed, is vital,” Lane-Cordova stated in a press statement.
Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: According to the writing group, “Clinicians should express compassion as they ask about life transitions and initiate conversations about physical activity during life events and transitions,”
Additionally, the group stresses the importance of “to look beyond the healthcare setting and engage organizations, communities, workplaces, faith-based communities and assisted living facilities to promote physical activity.” in the promotion of physical activity.’
Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.
