Why Are Health and Fitness So Important?

Fitness
Regular exercise or physical activity can improve your health and fitness, boosting your quality of life, by reducing your risk of diseases and injuries.

Regularexerciseor physical activity improves the physical and mentalfitnessof the body, which leads to a reduced risk of developing diseases, such as:

The AmericanAssociation advises at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, which is 30 minutes a day for five days a week.

It is recommended to reduce the number of hours of prolonged sitting even where prolonged sitting is a must. Take short breaks from sitting bywalkingfor a while.

What are the benefits of physical activity?

无论年龄、性别、或体能,regular physical activity shows immediate and long-term health benefits and improves the overall quality of the life.

Here are some of the advantages of regular physicalexercisethat illustrate the significance of physicalfitness.

  • Reduces the risk of diseases:Physical fitness improves the health of the body by decreasing the risk or severity of diseases, such ashypertension(high blood pressure),diabetes, high bloodcholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases,obesity, andcancer.
  • Improvesmental health:Regular exercise promotes good mental health by reducingdepression,anxiety, and othermood changes. It improves concentration, thinking, decision-making and self-esteem. It also helps you get goodsleep, which plays a major role in decreasingstressand improving your quality of life.
  • Increases muscle and bone health:Regular exercise is essential for the development and maintenance of strong muscles and bones. People lose muscle mass andbone densityand function as they age, which increases their risk of injury. Regular physical exercise promotes the ability of muscles to absorb essential nutrients for growth and prevents muscle loss while preserving strength as people age. It improves bone density that may help preventosteoporosisandarthritis.
  • Increases energy levels:Physical activity reduces the feeling of lethargy because it boosts energy levels and keeps people active. This increases social interaction, which makes people feel good about themselves and keeps them cheerful.
  • 减少身体y weight:Beingoverweightresults in several problems, such as internal damage to the organs and joints, decreased enthusiasm in life, and difficulty performing regular activities. Being fit improves confidence and encourages people to have an active and fun life.

What are the risks associated with over-exercising?

Overtraining syndrome is often called burnout and can harm anybody who engages in high-volume training without appropriate rest, which is commonly seen among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, manifesting itself in a range of physical and psychological symptoms. Everyone can perform physical activity, so the definition of over-exercising differs from one individual to the other.

According to Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, the major symptom of this condition is diminishing physical performance in sports despite continued or increased training.

Overtraining or over-exercising may produce several negative effects on the body that include:

  • Increased resting heart rate
  • Unexplainedweight loss
  • Decreased appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Ongoing muscle andjoint painunrelated to a specific injury
  • Increased risk of injury
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Increasedstresshormones
  • Weakened immunity
  • 经常生病的感觉
  • Mood swings
  • Increased anger and irritability
  • Impaired performance at regular work or studies
  • Decreased enthusiasm for sports or exercises

To prevent overtraining, schedule sufficient rest days after long or strenuous workouts. Resting between workouts and decreasing the intensity and frequency of exercises reduce muscular tension and help you feel active while resting after a tough exercise. Simultaneously, do not let too much time pass between training sessions.

Consult your doctor if you have any injuries that worsened over time or did not heal, are experiencing muscular soreness that lasts more than 24 hours, or feeling joint and ligament discomfort regularly. Discuss any concerns with your doctor and coach to ensure appropriate treatment.

SLIDESHOW

Pictures of the 7 Most Effective Exercises to Do at the Gym or Home (and Tips to Improve Form)See Slideshow
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Benefits of Physical Activity. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

American Heart Association. Why Is Physical Activity So Important for Health and Wellbeing? https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/why-is-physical-activity-so-important-for-health-and-wellbeing

BetterHealth. Physical Activity – It’s Important. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-its-important