Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 32)

CLUE: CLUE: A MINI FOOTBALL WHAT IT MEANS: Staying ﬁt starts at a young age. A TEAM JERSEY WHAT IT MEANS: Working out in a group setting strengthens more than your biceps. Staying ﬁt also exercises your mind, which is especially important as we age. Regular physical exercise may lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. “Your brain tissue, if you stop processing, will start to break down. Your brain tissue and your cardiac tissue are the only two in your body that cannot rebuild,” Marsico says. Working out in a group helps even more. A number of studies show that continuing to build social connections can lower the risk of cognitive decline, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Look into group training sessions, yoga or water aerobics classes, or join a recreational sports team. Harmon’s father was a college All-American and Heisman Trophy winner. “Everything a parent does, a child will emulate. Parents are the biggest role models, whether they want to be or not,” Marsico says. His advice: If you want to raise kids who make staying ﬁt a priority, teach them that it’s fun, not a chore. “Playing tag—a kid thinks that’s just a game, but by the end of the day, they’ve run a mile. But if you told them to go run a mile, they’d get bored,” Marsico says. Setting a positive example will make a difference. “If you want your kids to be healthy, then you need to show them that this is important. It’s just like brushing their teeth. Show them how, and they’ll do it for the rest of their lives.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES 32

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil's Feature
New Hip, New Life
Building Better Heart Care
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One's For the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Prime Time Health
The Future of Breast Health
Growing Generosity
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Gwinnett Medical Center