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Show Fiiness Developed Through Vigorous Activity, Exercise Your doctor recognizes the importance of exercise to health. The American Medical Association points out that exercise, or lack of it, is often a significant factor in the control of obesity, diabetes, heart and circulatory problems, orthopedic problems and emotional Fitness developed through vigorous activity and exercise can be preventive, as well as therapeutic, in nature. In a positive sense, health includes abundant energy and vitality. A healthy person is physically fit when he can perform his daily work and tasks without undue fatigue, maintain adeiuate reserves of energy to ei.joy recreational activities and leisure, and meet the challenge of unexpected demands. These might be running to catch a train, quickly climbing several flights of stairs, shoveling snow, or jacking up the car to change a tire. Can you go up several flights of stairs without severe discomfort, chest pain, or having to stop before you reach the top? you would expect to be puffing a little at the top,, but this should subside in a few minutes if you are reasonably fit. The best exercise is doing something physically active which you enjoy, with the exercise aspect secondary. If you enjoy swimming or tennis, or handball, these are excellent sports for exercising most of the body. Golf is good for the tired businessman. Most of us find it difficult to exert the mental discipline to keep at a program of daily calisthenics purely for the sake of exercise. If you have had little or no exercise for years, be cautious about plunging immediately into active sports. Work up to strenuous exercise gradually. There are simple tests by which your doctor can determine the extent of your fitness. If you flunk the tests miserably - and many of us will -- then ask your doctor to prescribe a simple, daily exercise program to help you get back in shape. |