Why is exercise important?

 

 What are the health benefits of exercise?

What are the health benefits of exercise?

We've all heard it many times: Regular exercise is good for your health and can help you lose weight.  But if you're like many Americans, you're busy a lot, have a sedentary job, and don't exercise regularly.  The good news is that it is never too late to start.  You can start small and find ways to get more physical activity in your life.  To get the most benefit, you should try to get the recommended amount of exercise for your age.  If you do, you will feel better, help prevent or control many diseases, and may even live longer.

 What are the health benefits of exercise?

 Regular exercise and physical activity can help:

 Control your weight:

 Along with diet, exercise plays an important role in controlling your weight and preventing obesity.  To maintain your weight, the energy you expend in your daily activities must equal the calories you eat or drink.  To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume

 Reduce the risk of heart disease:

 Exercise strengthens your heart and improves your circulation.  Increased blood flow raises oxygen levels in your body.  This helps lower the risk of heart diseases like high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and heart attack.  Regular exercise can also lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels

 Control your body's blood sugar and insulin levels: 

Exercise can lower your blood sugar and help your insulin work better.  This can lower your risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And if you already have one of these conditions, exercise can help you manage it.

 Quitting smoking: 

Exercise can make it easier to quit smoking, reducing your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.  It can also help limit possible weight gain from quitting.

 Improve your mental health and mood:

 During exercise, your body releases chemicals that can improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed.  This can help you cope with stress and reduce your risk of depression.

 Maintain your thinking, learning and judgment skills as you age:

 Exercise stimulates your body to release proteins and other chemicals that improve the structure and function of your brain

 Strengthen your bones and muscles:

 Regular exercise can help make the bones of children and teens stronger.  Over the years, age-related loss of bone density can also decrease.  Doing muscle-strengthening activities can help you build or maintain muscle mass and strength.

 Reduce the risk of some types of cancer:

 Including colon, breast, uterine and lung cancer

 Reduce the risk of falls: 

For older adults, research shows that doing balance and muscle-strengthening activities, in addition to moderate aerobic activity, can help reduce the risk of falls

 Sleep better: 

Exercise can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer

 Improve your sexual health: 

Regular exercise can reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction in men.  For those who already have this problem, exercise can help improve your sexual function.  In women, exercise can increase sexual arousal

 Increase your chances of living longer:

 Studies show that physical activity can reduce the risk of dying prematurely from leading causes of death, such as heart disease and some cancers

 How can I make exercise part of my regular routine?

 Make your daily activities more intense: Even small changes can help.  You can take the stairs instead of using the elevator.  Walking to a coworker's office instead of sending an email.  Wash the car yourself.  Park your car further from your destination

 Being active with friends and family:

 Having an exercise buddy can help you enjoy physical activity more.  Also, you can plan social activities that involve exercising.  You may also consider joining a group or class, such as a dance class, a hiking club, or a volleyball team.

 Keep track of your progress:

 Keeping track of your activity or wearing a physical activity tracker can help you set goals and stay motivated

 Entertaining yourself with exercise:

 Try listening to music or watching television while exercising.  Also, change things up a bit.  If you only do one type of exercise, you may get bored.  Try to do a combination of activities

 Find activities you can do even in bad weather: 

You can walk in a mall, climb stairs, or work out in a gym, even if the weather prevents you from going out