While you might link exercise to improving aspects of physical health like blood pressure and blood sugar control, activity can offer mental health benefits as well. Research indicates exercise not only improves overall sense of well-being, but also might serve as an effective treatment for mental disorders and reduce your risk of serious neurological diseases.
Overall Well-Being
A wide range of negative emotions can crop up during the day, including stress, frustration and anger, in even the most well-balanced individuals. If you are looking for a way to optimize mental health, regular exercise might be a good tool, according to a study published in the April 2008 issue of the "British Journal of Sports Medicine." The study found the more active people were, the better they felt overall mentally, and as little as 20 minutes of physical activity a week improved well-being.
Anxiety and Depression
Exercise affects neurotransmitters in the brain that influence mood much in the same way as drugs used to treat these conditions. Psychologists Jasper Smitts and Michael Otto found people who regularly exercised reported fewer feelings of anxiety, depression, stress and anger. According to Smitts, you can experience the benefits of exercise on mood after just 25 minutes of working out. The Arthritis Foundation points to a British study that found walking 30 minutes a day eased depression more quickly than antidepressants.
Cognitive Functioning
The Arthritis Foundation notes several studies that have linked exercise with improved cognitive function. A study performed at the University of California San Francisco found a connection between regular exercise and memory. The study looked at 6,000 women over the age of 65 and found that those who walked 2.5 miles daily only experienced a 17-percent decline in memory compared to 25 percent in women who walked half a mile or less per week. A study from the University of Virginia found that men between 71 and 93 who walked at least a ¼ mile daily were 50 percent less likely to suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Improved Sleep
Exercise can also help you sleep better, a major factor in optimal mental health. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found that women who walked an hour in the morning had more relief from insomnia than women who did not exercise at all.
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