Positive Effects of Exercise

Positive Effects of Exercise

        More than 1.6 billion people in the world are either overweight or obese, and the United Stated has the highest rate of obesity. America’s number one killers are cardiovascular diseases, which can easily be prevented by exercising. It is proven that exercising is one of the most important thing in life. Exercise not only reduces the risk of health problems and various diseases, but it also has an effect on overall well-being and mental state.  Exercising is a crucial component for having a happier and healthier life.

The first benefit to exercising is the improvement in the way you feel about yourself. Most people think of exercising as only a physical activity, but it is also a mental activity. When you exercise your body releases endorphins, which are chemicals that boost your mood and create a happy feeling. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as "euphoric." That feeling, known as a "runner's high," can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life. Some recent studies revealed that people who exercise regularly, have higher self-esteem and confidence. They also showed that active people are less likely to have depression and anxiety. Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression. Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape will also make you feel better about your appearance.

The last reason why you should exercise is because it will keep you healthy. Americans are eating large amounts of fast food these days, so cardiovascular diseases are becoming more and more common among them. One out of every four Americans are suffering from some form of cardiovascular diseases such as, coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other heart diseases are stroke, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease and venous thrombosis. These diseases contribute to forty-five percent of deaths annually. However, these conditions can easily be prevented by exercising. Exercising makes the heart muscles stronger by increasing your heart rate and working out the cardiac tissue. When your heart muscle is strong enough it can do the same amount of work at a lower heart rate, so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard as it does with weak muscles. Regular exercise increases your ability to take in and use oxygen.  It allows the cardiovascular system to deliver more oxygen to the body with every heartbeat and the pulmonary system to increase the amount of oxygen that the lungs can take in. As the body’s ability to transport and deliver oxygen improve you get added energy and less fatigue. Exercising also increases blood flow to your brain, allowing it to almost immediately function better. As a result, you tend to feel more focused after a workout. Furthermore, exercising regularly will promote the growth of new brain cells. These new brain cells help boost memory and learning.