Page 199 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

Regain an Agile Brain • 183

Dr. Wetzel’s dad, Buford Chestnut, used heavy weights
he made himself to perform leg lifts while seated in a chair.
You could start by using canned goods or plastic milk bot-
tles filled with water as lifting weights for the arms, or go
outside and hoe the garden. Virginia Chestnut participates
in resistance exercises, although she wouldn’t describe it as
such. She uses a hoe that weighs 7.5 pounds. You can see her
just about any warm day chopping down yucca plants in
the Texas panhandle.
Another excellent benefit of exercising is an increase in
arterial flexibility. The arteries of adults who exercise regu-
larly can expand more than the arteries of sedentary indi-
viduals. This is an important quality and may reduce the
severity and damaging effects in case of a heart attack. It also
helps to transport more nutrients and oxygen to the brain.
Always be sure to warm up and cool down when exer-
cising. One excellent method is walking in place for three to
five minutes. Even those who are in good shape can experi-
ence cardiac abnormalities without a proper warmup or
cooldown. If any of the following symptoms of physical dis-
tress occur while you are exercising, stop immediately and
seek medical attention: 15

• Excessive overheating
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• Rapid breathing that doesn’t slow down
• Any type of chest pain

• Pain, bruising, or bleeding

The Surgeon General’s Report

Adults reap many benefits from exercise, because it

• Enhances the ability to do daily tasks
• Improves outlook and attitude
• Relieves stress