Exercise is Medicine

Health is a hot topic as of late with everyone becoming more and more health conscious. This has lead to the media becoming saturated with the newest drug or product that everyone must have to ‘change your life’ and ‘improve your health’, leaving everyone overwhelmed, wondering what the best thing that they can do to improve their health is?

So, let’s get the first thing straight there is no magic drug, product or secret, but there is something that you can do everyday that will improve your health.

If you haven’t guessed already it’s EXERCISE!

Exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do for your health.

Exercise has endless benefits such as;

• Increased muscle mass, strength and endurance
• Increased flexibility and mobility
• Increased heart health (helps to lower blood pressure and workload on the heart, as well as increases the body’s ability to use oxygen)
• Increased Energy
• Decreased Depression and Anxiety

Decreased risk of chronic disease; such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

• Aids with weight management
• Increased quality of life

Just to name a few!

Studies have shown that exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms in knee arthritis patients by 47%, dementia and Alzheimer’s by 50%, diabetes by 58%, anxiety by 48% and depression by 30% and is the number one treatment for fatigue.

Studies have also shown that replacing sedentary time with just 10 minutes of either moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity each day is linked to a 38% reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, while 30 minutes per day was linked to a 77% reduction and have even gone as far as to associate poor levels of fitness with negative lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

So, when you look back at your day, I want you to think about how much of it is spent being sedentary, whether it be at work, commuting or even sleeping? For a lot of us the answer is pretty much all day. Well this doesn’t mean that just because you have a busy schedule or are injured or require a wheelchair you can’t lead a healthy life. Making time for 30 minutes of activity throughout your day can make an incredible difference in the way you feel and, in your health, overall. Exercise is extremely diverse and can be incorporated into everyone’s lifestyle, even if you just begin by walking the length of your home’s hallway several times a day, doing some seated marching, balance exercises while the kettle boils, or even going for a walk during your lunch. The idea is to accumulate more activity over the course of your day and do what you can to get yourself moving.

It is imperative to note that you should consult your doctor before undertaking any structured exercise program. Exercise can be fun, be sure to incorporate activities that you enjoy and make it social, exercise classes, golf clubs, bowls and tennis clubs are a great way to make new friends and get involved in your local community. So, get yourself moving, it takes less than 2% of your day to reap the endless health benefits of the best kind of medicine, exercise.

For information on how exercise can benefit you and improve your well-being, contact the Road to Recovery team on 4707 7671  or info@roadtorecovery.com.au