Benefits of Exercise

For years, it has been known that exercise is beneficial to the body, but the exact benefits have often been underappreciated by most people. Exercise is a vital part of everyday life, but if you need convincing, below are the most interesting advantages of staying active:

• Improved cardiovascular health

Possibly the most important benefit of exercise is improved cardiovascular health, which can have many effects on the body and quality of life.

Cardio-based activity allows the heart to improve blood flow in surrounding blood vessels, where blockages that lead to heart attacks may build up. This can also cause the body to create connections between small blood vessels, allowing blood to travel through the body more efficiently.

Heart arrhythmias (a common heart rhythm problem) can also be prevented or reduced, and the progression of heart disease can be slowed with regular exercise.

• Increased longevity

The saying that exercise can help you live longer has an element of truth to it.

A 2010 study compared the heart, lungs and muscles of active and inactive 70 year olds and 40 year olds. The active older participants (70 years old) were found to have had heart/lung capacity and muscle strength similar to that of the 40 year olds, showing a surprising improvement in the aging of these systems.

On a genetic level, researchers found that cell aging was also affected by exercise. A study identified that the telomeres on chromosomes (which shorten which age) were longer in active people than those who are sedentary. Telomeres are markers of biological age, and this difference in their length correlated to a nine year cell aging difference in active and inactive people within the study

• Reduced cancer risk

The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute both link exercise with a lower risk of 13 different kinds of cancer. Moderate physical activity has been associated with a significantly lowered risk of liver cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, etc., as well as myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma. This may be because avoiding a sedentary lifestyle can help you maintain a healthy weight, regulate hormones, and support healthy digestion, and an imbalance of all of these factors can lead to developing cancer.

• Managing disabilities and chronic conditions

For people with a chronic condition, regular exercise can help them manage their symptoms and improve overall health.

For example, with diabetes, exercise can help insulin lower blood sugar levels more effectively than on its own. With type 2 diabetes, regular activity can lower the risk of dying of heart disease and help control weight.

Those with asthma can help control the intensity and frequency of asthma attacks, while for arthritis, exercise can reduce pain and help maintain muscle strength in affected joints by reducing stiffness. It may also improve physical function and quality of life for people regardless of their disability or condition.

• Improved mental health

Research has shown that people who commit to regular exercise have better mental health and decreased rates of mental illness.

Exercise assists in treating certain mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. For instance, studies suggest that physical activity can be as effective as antidepressants or behavioral therapy in treating moderate depression.

Conversely, routine inactivity can cause mental illness or be a result of it.

When a person is exercising, the levels of chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones, change from their normal levels. People who exercise regularly may also gain validation by achieving their own goals, and this can serve as a distraction from negative thoughts. Added benefits include better managing emotions, an improved sense of control, self esteem, and coping ability.