Regular exercise enhances body functioning and fitness. It has profound positive impacts on depression, anxiety, stress, hence it is an effective way of improving an individual’s mental well-being. Surveys show that modest amount of exercise is critical in enhancing memory, boosting mood and relieving stress. Therefore, it is necessary that people conduct regular exercise as it is a powerful tool to feel better. The thesis of this work argues that regular exercise is crucial to improving mental health.
The source
Sharma, Ashish, Vishal Madaan, and Frederick D. Petty. "Exercise for mental health." Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry 8.2 (2006): 106.
This is a peer-reviewed source that talks about the idea of conducting regular exercises to improve mental health. It posits that the main reason why people engage in exercise activities is to alleviate anxiety, stress and other disorders that can stimulate brain malfunctioning. The article starts by acknowledging the high financial burdens that people incur to cure mental-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular attack, hyperlipidemia and other metabolic syndromes. According to the author, the growth of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes is a clear indication that people should develop life modification strategies to improve their health and quality of life. Lifestyle modifications are of great importance mainly to people with serious mental illness since it is cost-effective. According to the journal, exercise is an essential ingredient of lifestyle modification. Unfortunately, many people such as patients or professionals tend to overlook the significance of research in alleviating mental disorders and promoting emotional well-being. Surveys show that exercise may be an often-neglected remedy in mental health care.
The journal also talks about the importance of aerobic exercises (jogging, gardening, cycling, dancing etc.) for enhancing the well-being of the body. According to Sharma et al., such forms of exercise have proved to be instrumental in reducing anxiety and depression. The induced exercise increases circulation of blood in the brain, thus influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which in turn stimulates physiologic influence on stress. The physiologic reactions are stimulated by interaction between HPA axis and some parts of the brain such as limbic system, amygdala, and the hippocampus. Each part of the brain has a specific role. For instance, amygdala generates fear in response to stress. Both limbic system hippocampus controls moods and motivation. The hippocampus is also critical in memory formation.
The article also posits that regular workout improves mental well-being by alleviating depression, anxiety, and negative mood. It also enhances individual’s self-esteem and cognitive function. Through regular work-outs, people alleviate symptoms like low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Therefore, adherence to physical activity interventions is an appropriate remedy for psychiatric patients. People with schizophrenia are vulnerable to obesity, hence must engage in regular exercise to overcome such risk. If subjected to antipsychotic treatment, such patients risk uncontrolled weight gain. According to the journal, a group of patients infected with schizophrenia was subjected to a physical conditioning program. After three months of the exercise, the patients demonstrated positive improvement in weight control. The result was increased fitness levels, reduced blood pressure and general exercise tolerance. The patients also portrayed improved levels of energy and increased strength levels for their upper bodies and hand grip. The writers conclude by proposing that mental health professionals must emphasize on regular exercise to improve the health of their patients. The benefits include improved sleep, stress relief, self-endurance, reduction of weight, reduced cholesterol and fats. It also instrumental in increasing energy and stamina as well as improving one’s interest in sex. It also improves tiredness and cardiovascular fitness, thus increasing mental alertness.
The journal’ s thorough analysis of the topic is very helpful. It is a reliable source for studying the impacts of exercise on mental health. It is published in the NCBI website which is a renowned part of the National Library of Medicine in the US. The articles there are written and reviewed by qualified experts and professionals.
My Take
Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy that if conducted well can have a positive influence on one’s health. It can be done at home, at the gym, or outside. It is also practiced through regular participation in sporting activities such as athletics, football, volleyball, dancing, jogging, weight lifting among others. Aerobic (Cardio) exercise is designed for improving blood flow, and involve lower intensity workouts such as jumping, climbing stairs, walking, swimming, rope jump, etc. Anaerobic exercises are generally of high intensity and help in building body strength and preparing the body for hard duties. With a healthy diet, such exercises stimulate caloric use and burning of fats, hence helping in weight loss. They include running, weight-lifting, and push-ups. Muscular exercises help in the development of muscles, especially around the abdomen. It stops or minimizes back pains. Therefore, people to participate in regular exercise activities to obtain an enormous sense of well-being. Upon exercising, one feels more energetic, relaxed, have sharp memories and positivity about the self. In essence, exercise remains a powerful tool for mitigating common mental challenges such as stress, depression, anxiety. Take for instance, after a long day of work and rough day in office, a quick work-out at the gym can help in stress relief. Work-out reduces stress and enhances the ability of the body to deal with existing mental tension. Through exercise, one boosts his/her self-confidence. Basically, regular work-outs enhances body physical fitness which promotes self-esteem and improves positive self-image. It elevates an individual’s perception of the self, regarding his/her attractiveness and self-worth. Above all, exercise alleviates anxiety, boosts brain power and sharpens ones’ memory.
Works Cited
Sharma, Ashish, Vishal Madaan, and Frederick D. Petty. "Exercise for mental health." Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry 8.2 (2006): 106.
