NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is urging people to continue the fight against winter bugs by keeping fit and staying in the best possible shape.
Despite the number of swine flu cases in eastern and coastal Kent dropping from 37 per 100,000 of population to 32.1 per 100,000 over the past week it is important that people remain vigilant and do everything possible to protect themselves.
Staying fit and active will ensure your body is better equipped to fight off bugs such as seasonal flu, swine flu and other coughs and colds. It can also act as a great stress buster, help you keep the weight off and lower your risk of developing major chronic diseases.
The best way to keep active over the long term is to incorporate activity into everyday life. If you work in a shop or an office, try cycling or walking part or all of your journey to work and use the stairs instead of the lift. You can even go for a walk during your lunch break.
For busy parents, walk your children to and from school. As unappealing as it may sound, housework is a good workout, but it depends what pace you do it at. The most demanding activities include vacuuming, mopping, changing the bed linen, cleaning the windows, and scrubbing the bath and oven. Try putting on some upbeat music as you do it. That will get you going and help keep your pace up.
As you get older it becomes even more important to stay active. This will help you remain mobile and independent well into the later years of life. Cooking, housework and walking while you're on the phone all help to keep you active. Pushing, bending, squatting, carrying, digging, pruning and picking things up will all work different muscle groups, improve your balance and boost your co-ordination.
Sarah Andrews, Director of Nursing at NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent said: “Staying active, even with moderate exercise, can bring health benefits for all, and for children it can help to develop muscles and bones. We all know that exercise is good for you and can help keep you warm in winter.”
Adults should do a minimum of 30 minutes of activity at least five days a week. For children and young people the target is at least 60 minutes a day. You don't have to do the whole 30 minutes in one go. Your half-hour could be made up of three 10-minute bursts of activity spread out through the day.
For more information on keeping active this winter, visit www.nhs.uk.
A number of organisations are working to improve access to sports for disabled people - you can find out about these by visiting www.direct.gov.uk.
17 November
