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How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

bbc.com

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Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#31

Post by Someone »

anthony_romeo wrote: post #27
spodek wrote: post #12

Saying exercise prevents decline normalizes being sedentary. I prefer considering exercise normal and saying its lack accelerates decline. Anyone is free to call normal what they want, but I find my way leads me to live more healthy.

There's a saying: You don't stop running when you become old. You become old when you stop running. Of course, "running" can be substituted with any other exercise

Not only a saying: science. As long as you can walk 1.36 m/s (about 5 km/hour), the grim reaper will never catch up with you. 0.82 m/s (about 3km/hour) already makes you mostly safe (http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d7679)

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#32

Post by CompelTechnic »

Moru wrote: post #29
tacoman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

There are masks you can wear that makes it easier to breath the cold air for running when it's even colder. I guess it heats the air a bit. I like walking in the cold, just have to dress for it and not overdo it so you overheat in your nice warm clothes :-) I haven't tried the breathing masks though I probably should since I have asthma and breathing in the cold makes it worse.

Are they the sort of mask that makes you look like subzero from Mortal Kombat? I've been thinking about getting one.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#33

Post by devgutt »

tacoman wrote: post #26
devgutt wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same to me, but I was more active when I was living in a warm country. Now I am living in a mildly cold winter country, and struggling to go out out to walk/run because of the cold. 3 weeks and I already feeling less productive and healthy.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

Wow, this is great. I feel ashamed now because I was complaining about a 10-15 deg C cold. My old city was around 30 C the whole year.

What about breathing? Do you use any mask or this is something that you get used too?

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#34

Post by devgutt »

Moru wrote: post #29
tacoman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

There are masks you can wear that makes it easier to breath the cold air for running when it's even colder. I guess it heats the air a bit. I like walking in the cold, just have to dress for it and not overdo it so you overheat in your nice warm clothes :-) I haven't tried the breathing masks though I probably should since I have asthma and breathing in the cold makes it worse.

I did the same comment seconds ago about breathing. I don't have asthma, but this is something that is difficult for me too.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#35

Post by RandallBrown »

tacoman wrote: post #26
devgutt wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same to me, but I was more active when I was living in a warm country. Now I am living in a mildly cold winter country, and struggling to go out out to walk/run because of the cold. 3 weeks and I already feeling less productive and healthy.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

My problem with that right now is running in the snow/ice. The cold doesn't bother me, but It's hard to run on ice, even with traction devices on your shoes.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#36

Post by matwood »

devgutt wrote: post #19
matwood wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great way to put it. I've been exercising so long that it is my normal. Not exercising for more than two days in a row and I start to feel weird/not healthy. This has led me to end up on the treadmill at 10pm or 5am. When it becomes your normal it is just like breathing or eating.

Same to me, but I was more active when I was living in a warm country. Now I am living in a mildly cold winter country, and struggling to go out out to walk/run because of the cold. 3 weeks and I already feeling less productive and healthy.

Check Craigslist for a cheap treadmill or stationary bike if you have room. Years ago I bought an inexpensive treadmill that had been used maybe twice, that I still use today when I can't get to the gym.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#37

Post by arethuza »

devgutt wrote: post #33
tacoman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

Wow, this is great. I feel ashamed now because I was complaining about a 10-15 deg C cold. My old city was around 30 C the whole year. What about breathing? Do you use any mask or this is something that you get used too?

I've seen people going to the park here in t-short, shorts and flip-flops the first nice day in spring when the weather goes above 10C.... ;-)

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#38

Post by tacoman »

devgutt wrote: post #33
tacoman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

Wow, this is great. I feel ashamed now because I was complaining about a 10-15 deg C cold. My old city was around 30 C the whole year. What about breathing? Do you use any mask or this is something that you get used too?

I've never worn any kind of mask. I grew up in this weather, so maybe I'm used to. I was just in the Caribbean for a holiday. I tried running in +27 C weather with 70% humidity and I felt like I was suffocating.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#39

Post by tacoman »

RandallBrown wrote: post #35
tacoman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running in the cold is great. I run outside until it gets below -20 deg C. Some thermal tights and a few layers on top is all you need. It took me quite a few years to finally just give it a try and now I actually prefer running in the winter vs summer.

My problem with that right now is running in the snow/ice. The cold doesn't bother me, but It's hard to run on ice, even with traction devices on your shoes.

Yes, ice is by far the worst part. You have to pick your route to avoid it. I'm lucky enough to have a mostly cleared or packed paths in my neighborhood.

Re: How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

#40

Post by OldSchoolJohnny »

wukerplank wrote: post #4
Agebor wrote: post #3

- is it correlation or causation? - could the causation be in the other direction? You always need to ask these questions. Perhaps senior people who have immune systems as 20-year olds, are much more likely to cycle in old age. Or there is some other reason that causes both.

Does it matter that much? Just be active for as long as possible and reap the benefits of fit muscles and a stronger heart. Purely anecdotal: My grandfather is nearing 90 and still jumps on his indoor bike every day. Last winter he fell (due to ice) and got away with a few bruises. For other people his age this kind of fall could have meant a broken hip. He had two heart attacks when he was around 60 and a life long…

Does it matter? Of course logic and keeping it real matters unless you want to be ruled by superstition all your life.
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