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By Diane Griffith, HealthAtoZ writer
Why do I need exercise?
Exercise helps you live longer. It improves your mental health, reduces your risk for a large variety of serious diseases, and makes you look and feel better. Yet half of American adults don't get enough exercise and one-fourth don't exercise at all.
People who engage in regular physical activity can live longer lives by reducing their risks of dying from strokes, colon cancer and heart disease. They are hospitalized less, take fewer medications, and have fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Get checked out by your doctor, who will first see if you have some underlying medical condition that needs attention. Then the doctor will most likely endorse your getting up and moving and help you find exercise regimens that will be good for you.
Regular physical activity can:
- Reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and your risk of dying from CHD.
- Lower your risk of stroke.
- Reduce your chances of a having another heart attack if you have already had one.
- Bring down your total cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase your HDL (or "good") cholesterol.
- Decrease your risk of developing high blood pressure.
- Help reduce your blood pressure if you already have hypertension.
- Lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Decrease your risk of developing colon cancer.
- Help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.
- Promote psychological well-being and reduce feelings of stress.
- Help build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints.
- Help older adults become stronger and better able to move without falling or becoming excessively fatigued.
Who benefits the most from physical activity?
Everyone can benefit from regular physical activity. It helps people of all ages in the following ways:
Children and teens. Regular physical activity for children improves strength, builds lean muscle and decreases body fat. Physical activity builds strong bones that can last a lifetime.
Adults. Reduces the risk of numerous diseases, controls weight, and contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints.
Adults trying to manage their weight. Physical activity burns calories while preserving lean muscle mass. Regular exercise is a key component to any weight management effort.
Those with high blood pressure. Regular physical activity may help to lower blood pressure.
Those with physical disabilities. People with chronic disabling conditions can improve stamina and muscle strength through physical activity. They can also improve their psychological well-being by increasing their abilities to perform the activities of daily life.
Anyone with anxiety, depression or stress. Regular physical activity improves our moods, relieves depression and enhances our feelings of well-being. Studies show exercise can boost the effects of mental health care, which may involve medications and psychotherapy.
Older adults. Muscle strengthening exercises can reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones, improving the ability to live independently.
How vigorously should I exercise?
The good news is that physical activity does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial. So if you're someone who wants to start off slow and not have to work too vigorously, there's an activity out there that you'll find enjoyable and beneficial to your health. You can enhance your health by spending just 30 minutes most days of the week engaged in a moderate-intensity activity, such as gardening, brisk walking or even playing with your kids.
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External Sources
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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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American Academy of Family Physicians
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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