The Impact of Exercise on Overall Health

Hello, Future Physicians!

This newsletter is about the impact that exercise has on our overall health. In addition to physical health, exercise can have a positive impact on mental health as well. When someone exhibits healthy eating and exercise habits, it can lead to improved health. A healthy diet keeps the body fueled, and exercise keeps the body strong and active. It is important to be properly fed, fueled, and hydrated before exercising to avoid any harm and injury. It is important to be cautious when exercising, but it is also important to exercise regularly. If a patient has certain medical conditions, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing some exercises. There are many different ways to be active, such as strength training, running, and playing a sport.

Strengthening the Body: When we exercise, we engage our muscles, allowing them to become stronger. Strength training can be beneficial for our long-term health. For younger patients, it is important to regularly exercise so that they will have built up some strength and endurance for when they get older. Beginning to exercise at a young age can help improve and maintain mobility and reduce stiffness in joints as someone ages. For those looking to get stronger, exercise and strength training can help. Building endurance can help with seemingly normal, everyday activities, such as going up the stairs or walking up a hill; exercise can allow someone to be able to do these things more easily. This can prove to be important, especially as patients get older. Doing exercises that require balancing can help reduce the risk of falls.

Reducing the Risk: Exercise is vitally important in reducing the risk of disease. The risk for some of the following may be reduced by maintaining a regular exercise routine:

• Arthritis

  • Exercising can strengthen the muscles around joints.

• Asthma

  • Exercising can sometimes help reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.

• Diabetes

  • Exercising can help reduce blood sugar, especially when paired with a healthy, balanced diet.

  • Exercise can help with blood sugar management.

• Heart Disease

  • Exercising can help improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease.

  • For those who may already have heart disease, it can lower the risk of it becoming worse.

• Insomnia

  • Exercise can help improve sleep quality.

• Obesity

  • Through regularly having physical activity, patients may begin to see weight loss.

• Osteoporosis

  • Exercising can help strengthen the bones as well as reduce the risk of bone loss.

In addition, exercising regularly can help reduce the risk of stroke and lower blood pressure. Exercising is a key part of maintaining and improving overall health, so it is important for doctors to promote physical activity to their patients.

Weight Loss/Weight Gain: Each individual has different needs and goals for their body, and exercising plays a part in that. Some people exercise to lose weight, and others do it to gain weight by adding muscle. Both can have benefits for the individual’s health. For example, an athlete may do more strength training in order to get stronger for their competition, and someone who has not been very active may try and get rid of any unhealthy weight in order to reduce their risk of chronic disease. It is important for patients to be aware of what their body needs and even consult with a professional if they need any assistance. Building muscle can help those who are underweight or looking to get stronger.

Mental Health Benefits: Exercise can be beneficial for mental health. It can help manage anxiety and depression. It can also help with managing and reducing stress, which can be useful after a hard time. Exercising can also help boost mood. Exercising can sometimes cause individuals to go outside and/or in public settings, which can also be important for the mental state. Exercising can also cause some people to be able to work toward a goal, sometimes allowing a person to temporarily divert their attention away from what is worrying them. Exercise may help in alleviating symptoms of depression that may be caused by something like being overweight. For some, exercise can help build confidence.

In conclusion, exercise can have a number of things, both physically and mentally. Exercise is important because it can promote longevity and is important in our overall health. Although finding the drive to exercise can sometimes be difficult, it can be helpful to find a way to exercise that you enjoy, such as playing sports or going for a walk. It can be done in a group setting or individually, so people with different personalities or needs can find what setting they are comfortable exercising in the most. It is important for doctors to learn if their patients exercise and if something, such as pain, is limiting their ability to exercise.

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Keep learning!

The Future Physicians Newsletter Team

(Made with the help of the Mayo Clinic)