Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. This includes activities such as running, walking, swimming, dancing, cycling and even sleeping!
Regular physical activity is associated with improved health outcomes. In addition to reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, regular physical activity has been shown to have other positive effects on health. These include:
Reducing the risk of premature death.
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early by helping you to maintain a healthy weight, keeping your blood pressure in check and reducing your chances of developing diabetes or heart disease.
Improving mood and mental well-being.
Sport and physical activity are great ways to reduce depression and anxiety, and improve your mood and mental well-being. They can also help you to sleep better and keep you more relaxed throughout the day.
When you exercise, your body releases a number of hormones that can improve your mood and mental well-being. These include:
- Endorphins – these are the hormones responsible for making you feel happy when you exercise
- Serotonin – this is an important brain chemical which helps keep you happy
- Dopamine – good for boosting motivation and focus
Increased bone density, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
Bone density is a major concern for many people as they get older, because their bones become more brittle and less dense with age. Exercise has been shown to increase bone density, which helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life. The more weight-bearing activities you do, the greater your bone density will be.
When you exercise regularly, your body releases an increased amount of energy-producing chemicals called cytokines. These cytokines are produced by cells throughout your body, including those in your bones, so when you’re active, more of them make their way into your bloodstream and into the bones themselves. That’s why exercise can help build up your bones
Reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems.
If you’re wondering whether you need to start a regular exercise routine, the answer is yes. Even if you don’t have any health problems, a regular exercise program will help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of developing many common diseases and conditions.
Regular exercise also helps prevent many chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes — conditions that are more common in people who don’t get enough physical activity in their daily lives. In fact, recent studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are less likely to develop these chronic diseases than those who don’t exercise at all.
Improving sleep quality and quantity
Exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality and quantity in a number of ways. It can increase your body’s production of melatonin, which helps regulate your sleep cycles and make sure you get the right amount of time in bed every night. It can also lower stress hormones that keep you awake at night. Additionally, exercise increases blood flow to muscles, which helps them relax and fall asleep more easily; these effects are especially important for people with sleep disorders like insomnia or restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Exercising is a powerful way to prevent health problems and improve your quality of life. The link between physical activity and health starts in childhood, but makes a comeback after the age of fifty. However, exercising at any age increases a person’s heart rate, breathing rate, strength and endurance. All these health benefits work together to prevent many different types of illness in the body. Cycling and running are two common practices that have found tremendous success in keeping people healthy and fit.
