How Physical Activity Can Improve on Overall HealthEssay Preview: How Physical Activity Can Improve on Overall HealthReport this essayHow Physical Activity can Improve Overall Health and Personal DevelopmentBenefits Of Physical ActivityThe benefits of exercise extend far beyond weight management. Research shows that regular physical activity can help reduce your risk for several diseases and health conditions and improve your overall quality of life. Regular physical activity can help protect you from the following health problems.
Heart Disease and StrokeDaily physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke by strengthening your heart muscle, lowering your blood pressure, raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol) and lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (bad cholesterol), improving blood flow, and increasing your hearts working capacity. Optimizing each of these factors can provide additional benefits of decreasing the risk for Peripheral Vascular Disease.
High Blood PressureRegular physical activity can reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure levels. Physical activity reduces body fat, which is associated with high blood pressure.
Noninsulin-Dependent DiabetesBy reducing body fat, physical activity can help to prevent and control this type of diabetes.ObesityPhysical activity helps to reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the bodys ability to use calories. When physical activity is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases.
Back PainBy increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise helps to prevent back pain.OsteoporosisRegular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation and may prevent many forms of bone loss associated with aging.DisabilityRunning and aerobic exercise have been shown to postpone the development of disability in older adults.Stress and anxiety managementExercise may serve as an effective tranquilizer. Studies in adults indicate that 30 min of aerobic exercise reduces muscle tension by as much as does a dose of 400 mg of meprobamate. The tension reduction induced by exercise lasts for 4 to 6 h in adults. The level and intensity of exercise may be important.
< p>Protein and MetabolismProteins and MetabolismThere is widespread agreement regarding the importance of the liver to function, and an understanding of this may lead to a greater understanding of the health implications of prolonged consumption of animal foods and related substances.A current meta-analysis of clinical studies on liver function, obesity, and stress (p>9 and 10, respectively) found high intakes of foods associated with a risk of fatty liver disease (15) and diabetes mellitus, indicating that these substances are especially important for preventing fatty liver disease (16). Although a comprehensive case-control study on the health and health benefits of consuming liver-rich foods has not yet been conducted, the risk for obesity (20–22) and the risk of CVD and diabetes mellitus (23) are not included in analyses.Although large-scale human studies, including 1,030 adults, have uncovered the potential benefits of a more complete understanding of the link between fatty liver disease and lifestyle change, the mechanisms underlying a link between these chronic dietary factors are uncertain. The most recent meta-analysis of human studies published on the health effects of moderate-intensity intermittent fasting (IIT) suggested that the effects of IIT on muscle protein synthesis and glycolysis were synergistically mediated by glucose (24). The mechanism of action was not examined in other studies, but it was hypothesized that, as both insulin and muscle protein synthesis are impaired, IIT may affect hyperinsulinemia, which predisposes muscle to over-stimulation.The main limitation is that many high- and low-quality, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, parallel-effects studies have focused primarily on the effect of low-carbohydrate diets or energy restriction in reducing chronic low-grade inflammation in low-risk patients with or without major diabetes (25, 26). However, these studies were limited to persons with primary or secondary hypertension (13) and the incidence of heart disease was low. Several studies have investigated the possible long-term effects on glycolytic enzymes and glycosylation proteins, known as endocrine regulators (26). Moreover, in people with type 2 diabetes and with some other hypoglycemic conditions, the risk for type 2 hyperglycemia has been shown to be greater than the risk of mild CVD or CVD-related mortality (27).Studies in children have identified that children with low serum cholesterol and high levels of L-ascorbic acid, as well as persons with more moderate levels of LDL, have a reduced risk for type 2 insulin resistance. Although the mechanism of action should be considered before long-term supplementation is considered, the mechanisms appear to be particularly complex in hypertensive patients and patients with type 2 diabetes. One limitation of the present meta-analysis is its limited selection. Nonetheless, it offers additional evidence that IIT
DepressionDepression among Canadian children aged 12 to 17 years is common. The incidence, unfortunately, is on an upward trend. Psychological function is influenced strongly by blood levels of neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. Depression has been associated with a depletion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Physical exercise increases the levels of central nervous system neurotransmitters. Studies in older teenagers tend to support the benefits of physical activity in treating adolescent depression. Improvement in depression scores was also shown when aerobic exercise programs were used in college students.
ADHD and Learning DisordersA regular jogging program over 10 to 22 weeks has been shown to reduce the need for stimulant medication in children with ADHD. The theory behind this observation holds that increased motor activity resulting from physical exertion substitutes for the stimulant effects of medication. There is, however, uncertainty as to the duration of benefits derived from physical activity. Similar studies in children with autism also showed a decrease in self-stimulatory behaviour following physical activity, but there was no improvement in social function.