The article “Effective Health Behavior in Older Adults” by Leventhal, Schaie and Willis, was written in 2002. This article provides detailed information on the importance of exercise for an individual. It also clarifies the physical and psychological benefits of exercise. According to Leventhal, Schaie & Willis (2002), acute cardiovascular disease can be managed with the help of physical training. To justify this, the article expounds on how the performance of exercise depends entirely on the ability of the circulatory system to provide oxygen to muscles and skeletal muscles. Additionally, it exemplifies the way the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the activation of exercise muscles and skeletal muscles.
The article also explains how exercise performance contributes to the increase of heartbeats to meet oxygen demand. More than that, the article provides insight into how increased workload in terms of oxygen manages to balance the blood pressure and the heart’s pulse rate (Leventhal et al., 2002). Further on, the authors argue that the functions of the cardiovascular system reduce with age. To justify this, they explain how the maximum heart rate reduces each decade.
Leventhal et al. (2002) believe also in management of chronic cardiovascular diseases. As reported by them, continuous aerobic exercise contributes to physiological adaptations that aid significantly in the improvement of cardiovascular functions. Additionally, they argue that exercise training plays a significant role in increasing of V02 max of fit adults not only by the development of cardiac output but also by the extraction of peripheral oxygen. The authors also explain how peripheral oxygen extraction takes part in the improvement of the health of individuals suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
There is a great correlation between exercise and physical health. In line with Leventhal et al. (2002), low rates of exercise contribute to an increase in the rate of deaths as a result of cardiovascular disease. The article also depicts how exercise manages to lower blood pressure and colon cancer. As stated in the article, exercise needs to be either moderate or vigorous in order to be effective.
The article also expresses the psychological benefits of physical training. In consonance with Leventhal et al. (2002), acute and chronic exercise play a significant role in improving one’s mood and anxiety. The authors of the article also claimed that exercise lowers depression. To justify their point, Leventhal et al. (2002) explain the contributions of exercise to the treatment of depression in health centers. According to them, running is the most effective exercise that lowers depression in all people regardless of age and gender.
There is also a close relationship between exercise and personality. In agreement with Leventhal et al. (2002), exercise lowers the rate of aggressiveness in individuals. Moreover, they report that exercise plays a part in the change of one’s self-concept. In order to advocate their point, they argue that training leads to body physical changes. In addition, the authors also argue that exercise increases self-esteem by improving one’s perception of self-worthiness.
There is a close correlation between cardiovascular stress reactivity and exercise. According to the article, heightened physiological activities contribute significantly to the eradication of cardiovascular stress (Leventhal et al., 2002). The article also provides detailed information on how aerobic exercise is more effective than anaerobic exercise in controlling cardiovascular stress. Additionally, it explains how weight loss aids in the reduction of blood pressure that triggers cardiovascular complications.
From the article, it is evident that elderly people are the best individuals to be examined in the study of cognitive functioning. The main reason for that is that old people occasionally experience age-related problems.
Reference
Leventhal, H., Schaie, W. & Willis, S. (2002). Effective Health Behavior in Older Adults. New York, United States: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.