Before the 1980’s, research on the importance of sports and physical activity was shrouded in mystery. However, since then research has found conclusive evidence on the positive impacts of sport on health. Many people are cognizant of the positive impacts of physical activity on the well-being of an individual, but they cannot pinpoint the direct positive effects of physical activity. The positive effects of sport on the wellbeing of an individual are numerous. In many parts of the world, physical activity acts as a treatment remedy for communicable and non-communicable diseases. Additionally, engaging in sports helps individuals feel energized and adds years to a person’s life.
Further, the US Department of Health has consistently reiterated the importance of physical activity in deterring children and adults from drugs and smoking. Additionally, participating in physical activity helps participants develop friendships and relationships in a healthy and safe environment. In most cases, the environment for such activity is controlled which allows the implementation of positive relations. Therefore, the benefits of exercise are not just on the physical aspects but also improve the character of an individual. This article delves into the benefit exercise accrues to the body.
1. Healthy Heart
Exercise is crucial in developing a strong and healthy heart. The heart is primarily composed of muscle. Therefore, continuous exercise works the muscles of the heart. Studies show that regular exercise boosts the well-being of the cardiovascular system. For example, combining aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, or running with strength training routines such as weight lifting and resistance training is an effective strategy for improving the condition of the heart.
Such physical activity helps the muscles draw oxygen from the blood more easily. Therefore, this decreases the effort the heart needs to use to pump more blood to the muscles. In essence, physical activity improves the efficiency of the heart muscle in regards to its ability to pump blood throughout the body. In a healthy human being, the heart pushes more blood with every heartbeat, thus allowing it to beat slower to ensure the body maintains optimum blood pressure.
Additionally, physical activity reduces blockage in the blood vessels due to lower levels of bad cholesterol clogging the veins and arteries. Therefore, for an individual who exercises regularly, the heart has an easier time pumping blood through such a system. Eventually, the heart is able to stay healthy as it is not overworked.
Research shows that newly diagnosed heart disease patients are advised to engage in moderate exercise. Participating in physical activity for such people helps them return to work earlier. For heart attack patients, participating in exercise programs has been shown to reduce the death rates by around 20% to 25%. Evidently, exercise can improve the heart’s vitality.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Weight Management
Physical activity is known to burn calories in the body and also improve metabolism in the long term. For example, regular sessions of a half-hour or one-hour moderate intensity exercises can help with weight loss. Research shows that being active on its own is not an adequate deterrent to various health risks. Having an ideal weight and being active are both essential objectives. Therefore, the importance of exercise in weight management is crucial for one to stay healthy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been insistent on people participating in exercise as a way to maintain a healthy weight. Activities such as weightlifting, cycling, and running can burn calories and also reduce the likelihood of developing obesity. Exercise also helps burn fat; which also contributes to weight loss.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Lower Hypertension
If you were to take the blood pressure measurement of an athlete and compare it to that of an individual who lives a sedentary life, then you will find that the athlete’s blood pressure will be remarkably low. Exercise slows down the heart rate and decreases blood pressure. Regular physical activity creates a strong heart.
In some cases, patients with high blood pressure are advised to exercise and hence forego the need for medication used for controlling blood pressure. This implies that exercise is a form of treatment for hypertension. Research also shows that exercise aimed at maintaining low blood pressure usually begins to make an impact after three months of regular exercise and typically lasts as long as the individual continues to maintain an active lifestyle. Therefore, individuals who engage in regular exercise have lower hypertension.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Balanced Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol levels are important determinants of one’s wellbeing. Individuals who have high levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein – LDL) are susceptible to various complications such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Research shows that exercise stimulates enzymes responsible for moving LDL from the blood to the liver for disintegration. Essentially, exercise accelerates the breakdown of LDL and thus aids in its excretion.
Also, research has found that exercise leads to an increase in the size of the protein components responsible for transport of cholesterol in the blood. Small and dense proteins can squeeze in the linings of blood vessels and thus accumulate in the vessels. Therefore, large protein components cannot infiltrate blood vessels and cause damage. Exercise thus creates a balance between bad and good cholesterol levels by eliminating high levels of bad cholesterol.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Improved Blood Circulation
Exercise tends to boost the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL – also known as good cholesterol) in the blood. In addition, physical activity depletes the levels of unhealthy triglycerides and bad cholesterol in the blood. A high level of cholesterol usually accumulates the inner lining of blood vessels leading to restricted blood flow.
In such a case, the heart has to struggle to pump blood through narrow vessels because blood circulation is compromised. Physical activity leads to a decrease in bad cholesterol accumulating in blood vessels. Therefore, exercise causes a decrease in unhealthy compounds in the blood and thus allows blood to flow smoothly and subsequently, lowers the risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Stronger Immunity
It is highly unlikely to find an individual who is regularly physically active suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, sinus infection, cold, or a sore throat. The reason for this is because moderate to high-intensity exercise has been shown to stimulate the immune system due to improved blood circulation. A more efficient circulation system ensures that the components responsible for fighting infections such as white blood cells and antibodies are effectively circulated throughout the body.
Further, research studies have shown that regular exercise improves the body’s response to vaccines, increases T-cells, and also improves the vitality of the immune system’s killer cells. In addition to such benefits, physical activity leads to a reduction in stress hormones such as cortisol. Such hormones weaken the immune system causing the body to be susceptible to infection. An active body is thus able to fight off diseases more efficiently.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Muscle Toning
Muscle toning occurs when muscles are forced to utilize their full scale of motion while under resistance. Exercise causes resistance on different groups of muscle in the body. When the primary muscle groups are put under strain an individual gets a firm and well-sculpted physique. Essentially, the individual develops toned muscles.
Additionally, resistance exercises challenge the muscular system causing the body to build bigger and stronger muscles. Since the body of an active person typically has a lean body mass, such people experience improved muscular endurance. With an improvement in muscle tone, the individual gains stamina and always maintains a good posture.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]8. Stronger Bones
As people age, the bones go through a gradual decline in bone mass resulting in osteoporosis. The risk of osteoporosis can significantly be decreased by engaging in regular exercise. Bone is composed of living tissue which is usually stimulated into growth and development by weight-bearing exercise.
Physical activity, in most cases, involves weight bearing exercises as well as different forms of impact. Such activities have been found to have a positive impact on bone mineral density. This explains why the incidence of fractures among active people is rare. The high bone mineral density of highly active people makes the bones strong and dense.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]9. Boosted Self Esteem
One of the important lessons in sports is that hard work is always rewarded. When a person works hard at a sport and achieves their goals, the individual develops a sense of self-confidence. Achieving goals in such activities encourages individuals to set goals in other aspects of their life and subsequently achieve them. Additionally, as a person enhances their strength, skills, stamina, and physique, the self-image improves. Engaging in physical activity also stimulates the brain to release hormones and chemical compounds that trigger happiness and relaxation. Feeling happy and good about oneself is essential in creating a boosted self-esteem.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]10. Discipline
Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to enhance discipline through various strategies. For example, exercise boosts critical thinking and learning and also helps an individual develop good judgment skills. Discipline is a concept intertwined with such factors.
Additionally, physical activity involves hard work. During training, coaches insist on the importance of consistent focus and delayed gratification even when situations seems impossible. To achieve success and emerge the top, athletes have to practice consistently and apply creativity, accurate judgment, and critical thinking to beat opponents or achieve their goals. Through the application of such principles, an individual gains discipline even in other spheres of life. Participating in a sport also provide the opportunity to set goals. Such learning opportunities can enable participants to improve discipline in other spheres of life.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]11. Teamwork
In different types of games, the objective for a common group of players and coaches is to achieve a set-out goal. The effort directed towards achieving that common goal teaches participants about the importance of teamwork and communication in solving various problems. Teammates or partners in exercise have to learn how to work together to attain certain goals or objectives.
Continuous participation in such groups encourages teamwork. Also, working in teams ingrains efficient communication skills in participants; the skills can then be transferred to the real-life setting. Individuals who have worked in teams are thus able to solve problems they encounter at home or the workplace in a more effective manner.
