Staying Active During Autumn

Heart and Vascular Care

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What better time to get outside than autumn, when the weather is perfect for all sorts of activities?

Benefits to staying active

According to Kettering Health cardiologist Dr. Harvey Hahn, being active has a variety of benefits, including

Elevating your mood
Helping you lose weight
Lowering mortality

“If you can walk 10-15 minutes continuously every day, that will lower your mortality rate. In the same token, the more you walk, it helps you lose weight, controls blood pressure, lowers your risk of diabetes, decreases cholesterol—so it has a myriad of effects on your health,” he said. He also considers exercise to be an intermittent stressor, which will help make you stronger in the long run.

“You stress yourself out, you rest and recover, and the next time you have to do something you can tolerate it better. What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. This is true with exercise,” Dr. Hahn said.

He added, it is important to stay active with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Being in better shape, with a better immune system, is going to be helpful moving into the winter months.

Exercising outside

According to Dr. Hahn, outdoor exercise decreases stress levels, while sunshine and fresh air elevate your mood.

“It is a great environment to exercise and stay active,” he said. “In the summer if its too hot, it’s probably not the best time to try it out. As it gets cooler, there should be a lot more opportunities to get out there and enjoy your walk, run, or bike ride.”

It is important to dress for your activity and have a light jacket as it gets cooler. Dress appropriately for the weather and your activity and you’ll have a great time outdoors, no matter the conditions.

To get outside for exercise, the local Miami Valley trails are a great option to see new sights, while improving your health.

“In Ohio, we have lots of really nice trails. A lot is based on the old railroad pathways, so there are miles of interesting trails to walk in,” Dr. Hahn said. “I would go out there, try different areas, or go back to your favorite one. It’s nice to get out there.”