It is clear that sedentary life is a risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, among which the cardiovascular ones are one of the main causes of death in the western world. Leading a physically active life produces numerous health benefits, both physical and psychological.
Is exercising really healthy?
According to many studies, there seems to be a relationship between physical activity and life expectancy, so that more physically active populations tend to live longer than inactive ones.
On the other hand, it is a proven fact that people who exercise regularly have the feeling of being better than before they do it, both physically and mentally. In other words, they have a better quality of life. It seems evident therefore that physical exercise has positive effects on health.
The human body has been designed to move and therefore requires regular exercise to stay functional and prevent getting sick. Physical activity is all about body movement produced by muscles and requiring energy expenditure.
Physical exercise is a type of physical activity that is defined as any programmed, structured, and repetitive body movement performed to improve or maintain one or more of the fitness components. When the level of physical activity does not reach the minimum necessary to maintain a healthy state, it is referred to as a sedentary lifestyle.
What are the health benefits of physical activity?
There are enough evidence to prove that those who lead a physically active life can get a long list of health benefits:
- The risk of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and especially mortality due to ischemic heart disease decreases.
- Prevents and / or delays the development of hypertension, and decreases blood pressure values in hypertensive patients.
- Improves the blood lipid profile (reduces triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol).
- Improves blood glucose regulation and decreases the risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes.
- Improves the digestion and regularity of the intestinal rhythm.
- Reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, such as the colon.
- Increases the use of body fat and improves weight control.
- Helps maintain and improve muscular strength and endurance, increasing the functional capacity to perform other physical activities.
- Helps maintain the structure and function of joints. Moderate intensity physical activity does not cause joint damage; on the contrary, it is beneficial for osteoarthritis.
- Physical activity, and especially weight-bearing activity, is essential for the normal development of bone during childhood and for reaching and maintaining peak bone mass in young adults.
- Improves sleep quality.
- Helps relieve stress and improves stress management.
- Combats the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increases enthusiasm and optimism.
- In older adults, it decreases the risk of falls, helps to delay or prevent chronic diseases and those associated with aging. This improves the quality of life and increases the ability to live independently.
- Helps control and improves symptomatology and prognosis in many chronic diseases (ischemic heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.)
Finally, all these benefits will have a huge impact on the reduction of health expenditure. This is a strong argument for both public and private administrations to support the promotion of physical activity in all sectors of our society. Author: Reviewtique.
