Exercise is one of the best means to stay fit and healthy. It
can help us to stay away from major illnesses like knee pain, back pain, etc. If a
person exercises regularly, they can improve chronic conditions. One way to do
this is by managing their lifestyle to prevent the development of these
conditions.
In the US, chronic diseases killed more people than anything
else and disabled 40% of Americans. One chronic disease is found in 6 out of 10
Americans and 4 in 10 have two or more. Exercise can help prevent chronic
diseases, while also managing symptoms. Exercise affects your body on a
cellular level by stimulating the production of powerful signaling molecules
and hormones such as adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine.
The risk and symptoms of chronic conditions can be greatly
reduced by increasing your fitness level. Aerobic exercise can
prevent heart disease, but if you have signs of heart problems, moderate-intensity activity can help keep those problems from escalating. Strength
training builds muscles and joints which increases mobility throughout life.
It
can help with glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes and often
decreases arthritis pain. Simple exercises such as stretching can improve joint
move ability by reducing falls. Many people with arthritis can ease joint pain
through stretching and prevent the condition from getting worse.
Why
physical activity is the ultimate wonder drug
Shawn Flanagan says that exercise can improve sleep. It has
protective effects on the brain. Exercise can develop or maintain muscle and
other connective tissues. By exercising regularly a healthy immune system can
be achieved.
Dr. Flanagan says that By doing exercise wounds will heal
faster and medication can sometimes be reduced or maintained. An individual’s
brain is protected when they exercise. Exercise promotes the release of factors
that protect neurons and help in recovery from injuries.
The blood-brain
barrier controls what is transported out of the blood and into the brain,
making sure toxins, pathogens, and inflammation stay out. Damage to the brain
from chronic disease can be minimized with a diet rich in vitamins,
antioxidants, and omega-3s.
While often associated with weight loss, exercise is also
important for maintaining and improving our overall health. Exercise can help deal with health problems like diabetes or heart disease. These
are the benefits of exercising for many chronic health conditions: management,
symptom relief, and checking with a doctor to be sure it is safe.
Effects
of exercise in preventing obesity
Increasing physical activity can help combat obesity. With a
BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher, obesity is an untreated chronic
condition that affects more than 42% of adults in the United States. Additionally,
about 19.3 percent of children in America are obese. An estimated 112,000
people have preventable deaths due to obesity. However, over 29% fewer adults
were obese in 1980 than are obese now. When asked what the “biggest
problem” with obesity is, Parker responded that people don’t think of
obesity as a chronic disease, but it is.
One of the first steps to prevent obesity is to move more.
Parker states that the goal should not be about getting thin, but about staying
healthy. Even a small increase, such as by walking or cycling, can take you a
long way in achieving a better weight and general wellness.
A study from August 2019 found that people who are obese are
at a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression.
One way to reduce your risk is to exercise. Losing weight is usually a part of
the care plan. Exercise will help you do that.
A review study found that people who are obese and don’t
engage in physical activity may see a shorter life than those who are literate
and active. If you or someone you know is presenting symptoms of fibromyalgia,
a diagnosis would be made through interviews and observation.
If you’re dealing with chronic pain, exercise might make you
feel better. Aerobic exercises, strength-strength training, stretching, and
balancing have been shown to help reduce the pain and disability associated
with chronic pain. A study by the Cochrane Database published in 2017 found
that aerobic exercise interventions improved the quality of life in patients with
fibromyalgia by lessening the intensity of pain, improving physical function,
and lessening stiffness and fatigue.
What are
the benefits of exercise for those with chronic conditions?
Regular exercise can help people with chronic conditions by
managing symptoms and improving their health. Aerobic exercise, especially high-intensity
interval training, can help your heart health and weight loss. It is safe for
most people and generally effective. You alternate intense exercises with less
intense ones for short periods. Walking at a higher intensity can also
count as aerobic exercise.
A training program can improve your muscle strength and
endurance. It makes it easy for you to do daily tasks and helps you slow the
decline of muscle strength related to illness, and provide stability to your
joints. You can reduce your risk of falls when doing stability exercises.
What
exercises are safe to do?
Depending on what your doctor prescribed, you might have to
consult with a physical or occupational therapist before exercising. They can
recommend specific exercises to help with the pain or condition, as well as
advise you not to do certain ones. Low-impact activities are recommended for
people who have back pain because they don’t contain sudden movements, which
can aggravate the back. A person with this kind of problem could decide to
engage in low-impact aerobic activities, such as walking and swimming.
If you have asthma caused by exercise, try to keep a spare
inhaler with you. There are different exercises for arthritis, depending on
where your joints are and what type of arthritis you have (such as
osteoarthritis). Work with a health care professional to find an exercise plan
that will help you the most without causing too much stress on your joints.