I’m sure that most people are tired of hearing that they should exercise. Mostly because almost every adult is aware that exercise has important health benefits. Of course, knowledge doesn’t necessarily translate into action.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health because it can help:
Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
Reduce your risk of some cancers
Strengthen your bones and muscles and
Increase your chances of living longer.
Again, these health benefits are not surprising because the advantages of regular physical activity have become common knowledge over the last 10 years or more. But there are other health benefits that result from exercise that often get less attention than heart disease and diabetes. One of them is improving mental health.
Many physicians and other health providers may argue that focusing on the prevention of heart disease, diabetes and cancer is a better strategy to get people exercising than focusing on mental health. I will argue that the opposite is true.
Humans usually prioritize things that are either urgent or important. Although controlling weight, preventing heart disease, diabetes and cancer are important, they are usually not urgent. The focus is prevention of a disease that has not yet occurred, therefore, the benefits are not seen immediately (if ever) and may not be apparent for many years.
However, improvements in mood and mental health can be seen in a much shorter period of time. With as little as 25 minutes of exercise on three days a week, you can see some positive changes in your mental health. These benefits include
Better self-esteem, more confidence
Improved focus
Improved sleep
Less likely to be stressed
Less likely to become depressed and
Less anxiety
These additional health benefits are due to the effect of exercise on the brain. Physical activity releases chemicals in the brain including endorphins and serotonin. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, can be very powerful.
Serotonin is often referred to as the ‘happy’ chemical because it improves mood. The serotonin system is the target of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and has well-established links to treating depression. Endorphins are known as the body’s internal pain reliever and they are associated with ‘feeling good’. The release of these chemicals can lead to a better functioning and less stressed person.
In today’s fast-paced society, everything is urgent. Add to that a struggling economy and a difficult job market and it’s clear that many people are more concerned on life in the next few weeks, months or year. So it is a challenge to focus on preventing diseases that may not appear for 5 or more years.
The great thing about regular exercise is that you don’t have to sacrifice one health benefit for another. You can enjoy the improved mood, better sleep, and increased energy that could be apparent within weeks of beginning a regular physical activity routine. Yet you’ll still get the benefit of decreasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer if you continue regular and consistent physical exercise.
Although the benefits of exercise are clear, finding the time and motivation to begin or continue a regular physical activity routine can be a challenge. The reason that we should all be exercising regularly is because it’s urgent. We can’t continue to feel tired, unfocused, anxious and irritable. We must exercise to activate our bodies own internal system to feel energized, calm, rested, and focused as soon as possible. That will help us enjoy life a little more when we are living longer with less diabetes, heart disease and cancer, 20 years from today.
