Are there still people who doubt the benefits that exercises bring to our health? Every day new studies prove this efficiency and it becomes more difficult to separate this duo: physical exercise and health !
Many people, however, do not know the extent of the importance of physical exercise for our well-being and, consequently, our quality of life. In addition to weight loss and disease prevention, the practice also influences issues such as concentration, mood and sleep quality. Want to know more? Check it out here!
How important is physical exercise to our health?
Before talking about the importance of physical exercise for health , let’s talk about the problems caused by the lack of exercise, mainly because, in Pak, a sedentary lifestyle is a problem that has become increasingly important.
Research shows that the current population spends far fewer calories per day than it did 100 years ago.
Pak is the Eight most sedentary country in the world, with 46% of its population inactive. The consequence is the high rate of chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol.
The current lifestyle can be held responsible for 54% of the risk of death from infarction and 50% of the risk of death from stroke, the main causes of death in our country. These numbers alone would be enough for us to see how important physical exercise is!
What are the benefits of physical activity?
Science has already proven that practicing any physical activity gives an almost instantaneous mood. The practice of physical exercises produces chemical reactions capable of making people happier and the benefits are manifested in almost all of our organism.
From the musculoskeletal point of view, it helps to improve strength and muscle tone. Exercise increases flexibility, strengthens bones and joints.
In children, physical activity helps in the development of psychomotor skills.
With regard to physical health, we lost weight and percentage of body fat. Physical exercises help reduce blood pressure at rest, improve diabetes, decrease total cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”).
All these benefits of physical activity help in the prevention and control of diseases, being important for the reduction of mortality associated with them.
Just to give you an idea, the person who stops being sedentary and becomes a little more active decreases the risk of death from heart disease by 40%!
This shows that a small change in life habits is capable of bringing about a great improvement in health and quality of life. That way, we no longer have a duo, but a trio: physical exercise, health and quality of life !
In the field of mental health, exercising improves blood flow to the brain. It also helps with the ability to deal with problems and stress. In addition, it assists in maintaining abstinence from drugs and in recovering self-esteem. There is a reduction in anxiety and stress, helping to treat depression.
Physical activity can also have effects on the individual’s social life, both in the work environment and in the family.
So far, I think you’ve already realized that physical activity and health really go together!
The studies also proved that it is not necessary to practice intense physical activity in order to guarantee the benefits of physical exercises for health.
The minimum amount of physical activity needed to achieve this goal is around 200Kcal/day. Therefore, you no longer have excuses for not practicing physical activity!
How to choose the right physical activity?
The choice is made individually, taking into account the following factors:
Personal preference: the benefit of the activity is only achieved with the regular practice of it, and continuity depends on the pleasure that the person feels in carrying out it. Thus, there is no point in indicating an activity that the person does not feel comfortable doing.
Aptitude Required: Some activities depend on specific skills. To be able to perform more demanding activities, the person must follow a gradual conditioning program, starting with the lightest activities.
Risk associated with the activity: some types of exercises may be associated with some types of injury, in certain individuals who are already predisposed.
Physical activity for children and young people
You may be wondering, what are the health benefits of physical exercise in childhood and adolescence?
Well, for children and young people, in addition to being important in the acquisition of psychomotor skills, physical activity is important for intellectual development, favoring better school performance and also better social interaction.
Regular exercise can act as an outlet for children’s “extra normal” energy, that is, their hyperactivity.
Physical activity for seniors
Lack of physical fitness and low functional capacity are some of the main causes of low quality of life in the elderly.
With advancing age, there is a reduction in cardiovascular capacity, muscle mass, muscle strength and flexibility, and these effects are exacerbated by lack of exercise.
The relationship between physical exercise and health for the elderly has already been proven . Regular physical activity promotes body changes, improves self-esteem, self-confidence and affectivity, increasing socialization. Physical exercise and mental health also go together!
Before beginning the practice of exercises, the elderly must undergo a careful medical evaluation and examinations. This will allow the doctor to indicate the best activity, which may include: walking, exercising on an ergometric bicycle, gymnastics for the elderly , swimming, hydrogymnastics and bodybuilding.
Physical activity during pregnancy
Physical activities for pregnant women facilitate adaptation to the changes that occur during this period. A better cardiorespiratory capacity also makes it easier to carry out household activities; an improvement in muscular and skeletal conditions helps in adapting to postural changes and in labor and delivery.
In addition, it is extremely important for self-esteem, not to mention living with other pregnant women and feelings of security and happiness.
Gymnastic exercises ensure muscle strengthening, protecting joints and reducing the risk of injury. They also help with cell oxygenation, blood circulation and breathing control.
