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The
Importance of Fitness
Cardiovascular heart disease is
one of the greatest causes of death in the United States and other highly
developed countries. The medical community has recognized the need of
preventative medicine in our lives. Exercise and proper nutrition play an
important role in the prevention of cardiovascular heart disease and other age
related, debilitating diseases. A high level of fitness is important
because it also contributes to the quality of life. The body adapts to stresses
imposed upon it. The less one does, the less the body will be capable of
doing. Lack of physical activity causes a phenomenon called disuse
atrophy, a condition where the body begins to deteriorate because of
non-use.
Here are a
few examples of physiologic effects that occur with increasing age and lack of
physical exercise:
- Decrease in heart
efficiency
- Decrease in lung
efficiency
- Increase in blood
pressure
- Increase in body fat
- Decrease in
flexibility
- Decrease in bone
mass
- Decrease in strength
Exercising
has been shown to help with a variety of common medical problems including:
- Hypertension
- This is a condition where a
person's resting blood pressure is above normal. This medical problem
causes the heart to work harder and can lead to heart failure and
arteriosclerosis. Research has demonstrated that low intensity aerobic
exercise is beneficial in lowering elevated resting blood pressure.
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- Hypercholesterolemia
- A condition of elevated levels
of cholesterol in your blood. An elevated cholesterol level has been
associated with Atherosclerosis and increased
mortality rate. Active individuals have been shown to have cholesterol
profiles that indicate a lower risk of coronary heart disease.
- Osteoporosis
- This is caused by a reduction
in bone mass and bone mineral content. Usually an age related
disorder, it can make an individual more susceptible to bone fractures.
Exercising places stress on the bones and helps retard bone mineral
loss and may increase bone density.
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- Diabetes Mellitus
- This condition is caused by
the body's inability to handle and metabolize glucose in the blood. The
result is an elevated glucose level in the blood. Exercise improves the
muscles uptake of glucose and has a continued positive effect for up to 72
hours after an exercise session. A regular regimen of aerobic and weight
training can help reduce or eliminate the need for medication in certain
diabetic conditions.
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- Peripheral Vascular
Occlusive Disease
- Restricted blood flow to the
lower extremities of the body as a result of arterial obstruction. Exercise
has been shown to help control this problem and increase the functioning of
individuals with this disease.
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- Low Back Pain
- In instances where improper
muscle balance and flexibility is a factor in low back pain, a proper
exercise program can be effective in restoring flexibility and muscle
balance.
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- Anxiety and Depression
- Exercise has been shown to
help the brain reach a level of a relaxed meditative like state. It has been
speculated that levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain are altered
from exercising and have a beneficial impact on anxiety and depression.
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Healthgoods Staff
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Importance of Fitness
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