Rancho Family Medical Group

Summer 2019

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I know that the term "hiking" can be intimidating for those of us who are a little more mature in life. It's easy to picture steep mountains, rock climb- ing, and having to go for 20 miles at a time. Unless you hike for a living, it's very easy to avoid a situation like that. The Merriam-Webster definition for hiking is "A long walk especially for pleasure or exercise". pleasure or exercise". The key words to note there are "pleasure" and "exercise". No where in that sentence do I see the word vigorous, inclined, or excruciatingly painful. The only thing I see is an activity that is supposed to boost your mood and improve your health. Living in this beautiful valley, we are blessed with all levels of trails no matter what city you're in. One of my favorites is the Santa Rosa Plateau. A hidden gem in the city of Murrieta, it offers trails for all skill levels. There is no better place to reduce stress. Hiking not only helps with anxiety levels, but it can also improve core strength, car- diovascular health, and bone health. If you are in diovascular health, and bone health. If you are in any advanced stages of osteoporosis, make sure to take it easy on the trails. We do not want to pro- mote any fractures, but the weight bearing exer- cise should promote bone health. According to the NCBI, the rate of cardiovascular disease is supposed to raise 9.9% by the year 2030. Heart failure and stroke is supposed to go up 25%. It is important to stay ahead of the curve! If you have the chance to reduce your risk, why not take advantage of it? Grab a walking buddy and help keep each other accountable. The ACSM recommends 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Ev recommends 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Ev- eryone can take 30 minutes a day to enjoy the out- doors! View Dr. Simmons' online profile HERE 14 Pamela Simmons, MD The Benefi ts of Hiking

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