Exercise is one of the few treatment strategies that has potential to improve health in a wide range of diseases. Conditions related to the heart, cardiovascular system, lungs, brain, muscle, joints -- and the list goes on -- would all improve with exercise.
Physical Benefits
Your body is designed to function under a wide range of conditions. When you are exercising, your sympathetic nervous system is active. This branch of the autonomic nervous system prepares your body to use energy, particularly in muscle, to take on whatever physical challenge it faces. The body would not last long if it were constantly in this state. This is where the parasympathetics, a second branch, come in. The two branches of the nervous system are the ying and yang of autonomic control. The parasympathetics are active when you are resting and digesting, such as directly after a meal or during sleep. The body functions best when there is a healthy balance between these systems. Clinical measurements, as well as subjective observations, gauge the benefits of exercise to the sympathetic nervous system.
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Improvements
Regular exercise ameliorates risk factors for heart and cardiovascular disease, cardiology researcher Jonathan Myers of the Palo Alto Health Care System reports, noting reduced blood pressure, weight and LDL cholesterol. He also reports increases in good cholesterol, also known as HDL, and increased insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Better Sleep
A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Pharmacy investigated the effects of cardiovascular disease and obesity on sleep. Exercise has been shown to improve various related conditions, including sleep-disordered breathing, which leads to frequent night awakenings and interrupted sleep cycles. Poor sleep will lead to feelings of fatigue during the day, which may make it difficult to get out and exercise. This can lead to a vicious cycle, so it is important to get your heart rate up during the day so you can fall into a deep sleep that night.
Mental Health
The University of Washington Department of Family Medicine reported in 2010 that exercise relieves symptoms of depression as effectively as cognitive behavioral therapy or pharmacologic treatment. The article notes that a mix of resistance and aerobic exercise appears to be more helpful than either on its own.
References
- PubMed.gov: Clinical Inquires - Does Exercise Alleviate Symptoms of Depression?
- Circulation: Exercise and Cardiovascular Health
- MayoClinic.com: Exercise - 7 benefits of regular physical activity; Mayo Clinic Staff; July 2009
- PubMed.gov: Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Obesity, Pathophysiology, Complications, and Treatment
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