Exercise Decrease Hypertension and Organ Damage in Elderly, More So Than Medications - Research Paper Example

? Exercise Decrease Hypertension and Organ Damage in Elderly, More So Than Medications of Outline I. This section summarizes the main items of the paper from the introduction, the main points, the recommendations, and conclusions II. Introduction This section of the paper introduces the reader to the subject of the paper. In addition, the section gives a glimpse into the main issues covered in the paper and the contentious or debatable and emerging issues regarding these issues. For example, it introduces the subject of the debate surrounding medication and exercise as methods of treating and preventing hypertension. In this sense, the historical and current bases of this debate are mentioned, albeit lightly. III. Medication versus exercise This section specifically highlights the points and issues brought forward by both sides of the debate. That is, the arguments brought forward by those believing that exercise is a more effective preventive and treatment technique for hypertension compared to medications. However, the importance of seeking medical advice prior to engaging in any form or period of exercise is emphasized. IV. Exercise and Its Effects on the Heart This section narrows down on the exact benefits and effects of exercise, which makes it better and more effective than medication in preventing and treating hypertension and reducing organ damage in elderly people. V. Recommendations This section is about the various techniques and approaches by which health care professionals and individual elderly persons may engage in sports and other exercise to prevent, treat, and manage hypertension and organ damage. VI. Conclusion This section is a summary of the entire paper, especially on the reasons exercise is more effective than medication in preventing and treating organ damage and hypertension. VII. References This is the list of some of the references used in gathering the information contained in the paper. Abstract It is common knowledge that a healthy lifestyle is quite an important part of the treatment and prevention of hypertension, thus indispensable in this regard. According to the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, moderate-intensity resistance exercise or training should be used to complement aerobic exercise programs in any efforts to prevent, treat, and control hypertension. According to numerous past and current studies on short-term post-exercise blood pressure reduction in elderly hypertensive patients, the rationale for such exercises is the control of blood pressure. The issue of blood pressure control is more profound in the aged and people already diagnosed with hypertension, especially with regards to the lowering of resting blood pressure. Although exercise activities elicit post-exercise blood pressure drop, the mechanisms causing these responses are not entirely understood. In most of these studies that target elderly hypertensive patients aged about 65, cardiac output and blood pressure are the variables commonly measured, both at rest and after short periods of low-intensity exercises such as bicycle rides. The results of most of these studies indicate that in hypertensive patients, exercises provoke a considerable drop in blood pressure and cardiac output. The therapeutic and preventive uses of exercise have made it to be compared with medication with respect to the treatment and prevention of hypertension. In fact, many a stakeholder feels that exercise is more effective than medication in the treatment of hypertension. However, there are those with opposing opinion who believe medication still has an upper hand in treating and preventing hypertension. Introduction Quite a number of health literatures cover the techniques by which one may reduce or manage high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions. However, fewer health literatures recommend techniques for controlling and preventing heart conditions without involving medications. Most literatures emphasize the effectiveness of combining alternative methods with medications. In general, many literatures focus on the importance and impacts of lifestyle changes in preventing and managing heart conditions such as high blood pressure (Flicker & Almeida, 2010). By implementing some or all of these lifestyle changes, one stands an increased chance of lowering his or her blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of suffering a heart disease (Flicker & Almeida, 2010). Besides the effects of exercise on high blood pressure, exercise’s effectiveness in reducing organ damage in elderly persons has also been extensively researched and published in many literatures. This extensive study and coverage of the effectiveness of exercises on reducing hypertension and organ damage in the elderly has seen many studies conclude that exercise decreases hypertension and organ damage in elderly to a greater extent than medications (Flicker & Almeida, 2010). This paper thus explores the assertion that exercise is more effective in decreasing hypertension and organ damage in the elderly than medication is. Medication versus Exercise It is in studies on elderly people that the relationship between health and aging has been established. For example, as people live longer, their risks of contracting chronic conditions increase. In other words, the elderly are more prone to quite many health problems, which may pave way for other conditions and organ or tissue injuries (McKenzie, 2008). Thus, healthy and unwell elders need extra and more careful attention and health management. This care could be provided in hospitals, at home, or at an assisted living facility all of which could have different implications on the health of an elderly person. Therefore, notwithstanding the setting, it is imperative that careful health management is upheld to ascertain proper care and health improvement or maintenance of quality of life. A more common condition in elderly people is high blood pressure or hypertension, which targets different organs of its victims and increases an elderly person’s risks of having a stroke (McKenzie, 2008). Other risks of hypertension are the development of a heart disease, kidney damage, and other health complications. Once diagnosed as having high blood pressure, many people get worried about the right and the most effective medication or therapy to take. Such victims fail to realize that lifestyle plays a rather critical role not only in enhancing the risks of getting hypertension but also in its prevention and treatment. That is, by successfully indulging in healthy lifestyle activities, one may manage to bring hypertension under control and reduce or eliminate the need to undertake medications (Visich & Clarkson, 2012). For example, exercise and good diet may make an individual to lose some extra pounds and watch his or her waistline. Since hypertension increases as weight increases, activities such as sports, which help reduce weight, are quite helpful in reducing blood pressure (Visich & Clarkson, 2012). That is, the more weight one loses; the lowered are the chances of having hypertension. In addition, exercise causes weight reduction, which makes medications more effective. Exercise is also more effective than medication in controlling the waistline, which is the other important factor in hypertension risks. It is thus recommended that the elderly watch their waistline so that it does not exceed 40 inches, which places them at an increased risk of having hypertension (Visich & Clarkson, 2012). On the other hand, women with waistlines greater than 35 inches are at greater risks of having hypertension. The importance of regular exercise on the reduction of hypertension risks and the condition’s treatment cannot be overemphasized. A regular exercise that lasts at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week have been shown to greatly reduce blood pressure by between 4 and 9 mmHg (Sparling et al., 2009). Notably, it does not take a long period for the effects of such physical activities to be evident. In fact, for those who have been physically inactive, it would take just a few weeks for such regular exercises to lower their blood pressure (Sparling et al., 2009). Exercise is also better than medication for patients of pre-hypertension, which is characterized by systolic pressures between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89. In such people, regular exercise could seem them avoid developing full-blown hypertension. For those already diagnosed with hypertension, regular exercise is quite effective in lowering blood pressure to safer levels. Exercise and Its Effects on the Heart Hypertension cannot be discussed without mentioning the heart, the organ most affected by hypertension. In fact, the effects of exercise are most felt in the heart. Among the main risk factors for heart diseases and hypertension is inactivity. Fortunately, just short exercises help improve heart health, thus reversing the occurrence of some heart disease risk factors (Sparling et al., 2009). The effects of exercises on the heart have also been believed to be more profound than those of medication as exercises make the heart stronger so that it pumps blood through the entire body at maximum levels. In fact, with the right level of exercise, the heart does its work without any strain (Sparling et al., 2009). For indulging in exercise, the resting heart rate is reportedly slower compared to those not involved in exercise since the heart uses less effort to pump blood. Although people who frequently and vigorously undertake exercises have the lowest risks of having hypertension and heart diseases, any amount of exercise is beneficial to health (Sparling et al., 2009). This assertion is quite ideal for the elderly in society, who can only indulge in light exercises due to their advanced age and frail physique. In fact, studies show the importance of exercises and recommend light and moderate exercise of the elderly and those with heart conditions and hypertension. Nonetheless, it is of the essence that anyone suspecting or suffering from hypertension or heart disease seeks medical advice prior to undertaking exercise programs. For the aged, exercise has several profound effects not only on the heart but also on blood circulation in other parts of the body (Hertzog & Kramer, 2008). Among these benefits are reduced arterial inflammation, reduced fat and cholesterol levels, supporting weight loss efforts, and flexible and open blood vessels. Studies also show that physical activity and avoidance of high-fat foods are the two most successful means of attaining and maintaining levels of fitness and weight for a healthy heart and blood pressure (Hertzog & Kramer, 2008). As more elderly people seek safer and economically more favorable health solutions, the debate comparing the effectiveness of exercise and medication has risen to new heights. Coupled with the ever-hiking medication costs in the last decade, dropping gym prices have encouraged many to turn to exercise for general good health and well being. Many customers and patients have since been handed the power to decide the least expensive and the most beneficial health interventions (Hertzog & Kramer, 2008). Although the 1990s saw quite many breakthroughs in medical research and discoveries, the huge amounts of money used in these researches and discoveries led to a rapid increase in medication prices, especially prescription medicine. Unfortunately, exercise remains the most underused pre-emptive health tool in current rimes. This scenario prevails despite the fact that exercise has no detrimental health side effects like medications. One disadvantage of medication over exercise is that the former has a dose response, the dosage that is likely to result in the intended response from a patient. Regrettably, these dose reactions are often accompanied by side effects such as intestinal distress such as cramping and diarrhea (Sparling et al., 2009). On the other hand, the side effects of exercise include healthy weight, natural endorphins, healthy blood pressure, more energy, and less pain. All one requires for an experience of these health benefits of exercise are a competent and proper supervision by fitness professional (Hertzog & Kramer, 2008). One perspective that the medication-exercise debate has taken regards cholesterol, whose medications are among the most prescribed today. Many of these medications have muscular side effects, thus hinder liver activity. With regards to hypertension, among the most used medications are diuretics, which have serious side effects on patients. These side effects include frequent urination. Thus, one must stay hydrated while using these medications. The other medication that has negative side effects on the body is Renin inhibitors such as Lisinopril and Ramparil (Sparling et al., 2009). They decrease arteriole pressure (pressure as blood leaves the heart) and increase venous capacity (blood returning to the heart). Thus, these medications turn off the body’s response to low blood pressure. Recommendations The use of exercise as a preventative mechanism is one area in which the medication versus exercise debate had seriously focused. Exercise is not only effective when conditions related to diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, or hypertensions are detected; rather, physical activity is also phenomenal in preventing the contraction of these diseases (Cameron, 2010). This is the reason those involved in daily or regular exercise have lowered risks for the mentioned diseases. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is the reliability, resistance, and cardiovascular training that determines the effect of exercise on lowering the risks associated with these diseases (Cameron, 2010). That is, no particular exercise could be said to best treat a give disease. Even for the elderly, an inactive lifestyle is not only a predictor of these classes of disease but also of premature death. The elderly should thus enroll in fitness programs designed to decrease the waistband, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and reduce blood sugar levels (Sparling et al., 2009). For the elderly, the benefits of exercise go beyond health issues. For example, the elderly can use exercise to let off steam after a stressful day. In addition, exercise lowers blood pressure and anxiety levels for the aged. Several other recommendations come in handy whenever an elder is diagnosed as hypertensive. These recommendations include but are not limited to lowered dietary salt intake, weight loss for the overweight, no smoking, medication, and more exercises (French & Jeffery, 2009). Although it is widely accepted that the target blood pressure stands at 120/80 mmHg, little is established with regards to elderly persons since rather few blood pressure studies have been conducted on this age group. In fact, organ damages resulting from hypertension in the elderly is rarely obvious since they occur either overnight or slowly. This lack of clarity in the right blood pressure levels for the elderly explains the many cases in which elderly people over the age of 65 get dizzy, pass out, and collapse suddenly. This condition, in which the blood pressure suddenly gets quite low in the elderly, is referred to as postural or orthostatic hypotension. This condition specially places the aged at risks of catching other serious organ injuries and fractures. In general, medical doctors set the blood pressure level for the elderly people at 140/90 mmHg, 150/80 mmHg, or 150/85 mmHg. Conclusion Since historical times, stakeholders have debated on the benefits and weakness of various approaches to treatment. Often compared and contrasted in these debates are medication and exercise therapies, with many studies suggesting that exercise is more effective in preventing and treating hypertension than medication is. With regards to the elderly in society, exercise has been largely explored, albeit with reference to the effects of light and intermediate exercise on the hypertensive group. However, in general physical activity has life- and health-preserving benefits to all the major diseases in current society. Consequent to its positive effects on the health and well being of the young and the elderly, exercise is often the first recommendation in the prevention of many diseases by physicians and other health professionals. The benefits of exercise are healthy blood pressure, healthy weight, less pain, and more energy. Despite the therapeutic and preventive advantages of exercise over medication, it is often advisable to consult with a doctor prior to starting on an exercise program. In addition, the role of proper supervision in such an exercise should not be overlooked. This advice and supervision is important in the maximization of efficiency, complete adherence to exercise, and consistency. References Cameron, M. H. (2010). Physical agents in rehabilitation: from research to practice. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders. Flicker, L., and Almeida, O. P. (2010). Body Mass Index and Survival in Men and Women Aged 70 to 75. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(2): 241 French, S. A., and Jeffery, R. W. (2009). Weight Control Behaviors among Adult Men and Women: Cause for Concern? Obesity Research, 7(2): 179. Hertzog, C., and Kramer, A. F. (2008). Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be. Psychological Science in the Public Interest 9(1): 65. McKenzie, R. A. (2008). The cervical and thoracic spine: mechanical diagnosis and therapy. New Zealand: Spinal Publications Ltd. Sparling, P. B., Giuffrida, A., Piomelli, D., Rosskopf , L., and Dietrich, A. (2009). Exercise Activates the Endocannabinoid System. Neuro-Report, 14(17): 2211. Visich, P. S., and Clarkson, P. M. (2012). Variability in Muscle Size and Strength Gain after Unilateral Resistance Training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 37 (6): 972. Read More