Is exercise mandatory for our Body?

Physical exercise is a activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability which is planned and structured, and which includes repetitive body movements done to improve physical fitness and for the sake of health.

Physical activity has a pivotal role in health promotion & disease including CAD & Type 2 DM. Improvement in cardiovascular & general physical fitness enhances quality of life.

Physical exercise can improve both your mental and physical health. Exercise pumps more blood through your veins. This increases the size of your arteries, prevents fat from clogging your arteries and helps prevent blood clots. A strong heart does not have to work so hard so you are less likely to have a heart attack.

Regular exercise (3 to 4 times a week or more) can lower blood glucose, lowers blood pressure, help you lose weight and reduce your risk for heart disease. Regular exercise also increases your HDL (good) cholesterol and helps lower your total cholesterol.

Weakening bones are a fact of life that all people, especially women, must face as they grow older. However, steps can be taken early in life to prevent Osteoporosis.

Exercise is also an essential tool in the battle against Osteoporosis as it is effective in both prevention and treatment.

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones that were once strong and thick become weak and brittle. It is normal to lose bone mass with age, but loss to the point of frequent fractures can cause health problems and a loss of independence. Regular exercise can not only prevent Osteoporosis, but it can also slow bone loss once it has begun.

Physical activity is also essential for people with diabetes. A lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and plenty of physical activity can reduce your chances of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. So, work with your health-care professional to develop a physical activity plan as part of your daily diabetes-management regimen.

Exercise is also an essential tool for lungs as they become better conditioned so that activities such as climbing stairs will not make you out of breath. Muscles that are not used become small and inelastic, but aerobic exercise will help tone your body by increasing muscle size, strength and flexibility while burning calories. Exercise can also help alleviate stress and make you more productive, so choose something that you enjoy and stick with it.

Exercise slows the Aging Process...increases work capacity, aerobic fitness, bone density, muscular strength, & flexibility, which would otherwise decrease with age and increases Endorphins...hormones that make you Feel Great

Exercise can improve sleep quality and daytime energy levels, and helps prevent chronic health problems such as high blood pressure.

The famous gerontologist, Dr Robert Butler of the International Longevity Centre, once said: “If exercise were a drug, it would be the most prescribed pill in the world!”

Even a small amount of exercise, such as two 20 minutes walks a day – can reduce the physiological age by nearly five years. Dr James Rowe, a well-known gerontologist, commented that, “Heredity is not the only factor in longevity. Only about 30% of the characteristics of ageing are genetically determined. The other 70% are linked to lifestyle.”

Experts think exercise helps because it raises blood levels of endorphins. They are involved in the body's positive response to stress. The mood-heightening effect can last for several hours, according to some endocrinologists.

Excessive exercise is as bad as no exercise at all. It can affect every facet of your life. When you train too much, you can experience mood swings and problems with sleep and appetite. You're also more susceptible to colds and injuries, as intense physical exercise can lower the integrity of the immune system.

Hence it is necessary to consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program, check with your doctor if you are over 40 or have a history of medical problems.