Exercise and health
When it comes to maintaining your health, exercise is key. It can be adapted to any situation.
Staying active prolongs life expectancy. It also has many benefits such as:
Preventing chronic diseases:
Cancer
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease
Improves focus and concentration
Helps maintain mental health
Improves sleep
Reduces stress
Helps maintain good muscle mass
Increases bone density
Helps adults and seniors remain independent for longer.
Intensity
You don't need to run a marathon to be physically active. Walking can be a great place to start. If you walk at least 5 days a week at a good pace, you are considered an active person. You can also stay motivated by inviting someone to join you.
Intensity refers to the energy you expend while exercising. Here's how to distinguish between various intensity levels:
Light intensity: Your breathing is a little heavier than normal but you can still hold a regular conversation.
Moderate intensity: Your breathing is heavier than normal and you can speak in short sentences only.
High intensity: Your breathing is very heavy and you can only speak in very short sentences.
Here are a few examples of activities you can do according to various intensity levels:
Light intensity | Moderate intensity | High intensity |
Walking at a slow pace | Walking at a fast pace | Running |
Golfing | Skating | Swimming or cycling at a high speed |
Bowling | Dancing | Aerobics |
Housekeeping | Playing games and sports with children | Cross-country skiing, volleyball or competitive hockey |
Duration and objectives
Ideally, you should be active every day, setting realistic and gradual goals to get there. For example, doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. To achieve this, try doing 3 short sessions of 10 minutes each.
Here are a few recommendations for adults:
A total of 150 minutes of moderate- to high-intensity aerobic activity per week.
At least 2 strength-training activities per week.
7 to 9 hours of high-quality sleep with a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.
No more than 8 hours of sedentary activity (not active) per day. This includes the following:
No more than 3 hours of screen time per day (outside of work hours)
Interrupting long periods spent sitting down as often as possible.
For people over the age of 65, practice exercises that work on balance.
For young people between the ages of 5 and 17, at least 1 hour of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity per day is recommended.
A few tips
Choose activities that you enjoy
Establish a routine
Reduce your screen time outside of work
Choose active modes of transportation to get from point A to point B (e.g., walking, biking, or running)
Spread your workouts throughout the week
Join a group or team
You can also consult a kinesiologist to set up an exercise routine adapted to your needs.
For more information:
ParticipACTION
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The patient information leaflets are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This content is for information purposes only and does not in any manner whatsoever replace the opinion or advice of your health care professional. Always consult a healthcare professional before deciding on your medication or treatment.
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