Exercise impacts every aspect of daily life. Physical and mental health are directly affected by regular exercise and physical activity. In turn, physical and mental health play a role in weight control, resistance to disease, appearance and sexual health.
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Stress chemicals are burned off by exercise. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released in response to the fight-or-flight reaction to perceived danger. Fight-or-flight translates into anger or fear, both capable of flooding the body with stress hormones that increase the heart and respiratory rates and redirect blood to the limbs away from the internal organs where cell repair and immunological systems are at work. Thirty minutes to an hour of exercise burns up stress chemicals and releases mood-improving chemicals such as endorphins and catecholamines.
Weight Control
Exercise is a major player in the game of weight control. The present-day lifestyle requires an individual to burn relatively few calories during the course of work and play compared to lifestyles of the past. Electricity and electronics do the work for you, reducing the energy expenditure to perform daily tasks. You can combat weight-control sabotaging conveniences through planned inefficiency. Burn more calories by doing some things the hard way, such as parking a few blocks away from your destination, washing your own car or raking the leaves instead of using a lawn vacuum.
Mental Health
Engaging in physical activities for work or entertainment increases physiological well-being and impacts mental health. Besides increasing health-promoting hormones, physical activity relieves stress and tension, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Aerobic and strength-building exercises lead to a feeling of exhilaration and sense of better control over your body, which increases self-esteem and a sense of self-efficacy. Daily exercise is recommended for optimum results.
Physical Health
Regular exercise decreases the likelihood of developing age- and weight-related illnesses and disorders. Exercise increases good cholesterol, called high-density lipoprotein or HDL, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides, regardless of whether you are overweight, according to MayoClinic.com. Health benefits of exercise include a decrease in heart and respiratory rates and a reduced risk of developing arthritis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and many other illnesses and diseases.
Sex Life
Exercise affects every life domain, including your sex life. MayoClinic.com reports that women who exercise regularly have increased sexual arousal and men who exercise regularly are less likely to experience erectile dysfunction. According to the American Council on Exercise, research indicates that individuals with poor physical or mental health experience more sexual dysfunction. The impact of exercise on both physical and mental health translates into improved sexual health.
Member Comments