Regular exercise is most often associated with improved physical health and fitness. It helps us lose weight, get into shape, increase stamina, build muscle and improve cardiovascular health, among countless other benefits.
Routine physical activity dramatically benefits our bodies, but its role in maintaining and promoting mental health is not negligible. Walking, running, and working out help keep a healthy body, but their effects on our brains give us a sense of relaxation, satisfaction, and even happiness.
Effects of Physical Exercise on Our Body
Different exercises affect our bodies in various ways. Aerobic exercises like walking and running help boost our cardiac health and endurance. Strength training helps us build muscle mass and get our body into shape. Flexibility exercises like stretches increase our body’s flexibility and blood flow.
Effects of Physical Exercise on Our Body
When we engage in any kind of physical activity for a sustained period, our brain releases certain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals. Here is a brief breakdown of various neurotransmitters:
Dopamine helps to improve our mood and motivation.
Serotonin contributes to feelings of calm and well-being.
Endorphins (often called feel-good hormones) can induce euphoria and dull pain perception.
Norepinephrine helps to improve focus and overall mental acuity.
There has been a steady stream of research over the last few years looking into the effects of regular exercise on mental health. This rise in mental health-related research has been spurred on, in part, by the relatively limited effectiveness of medications on mental health problems and general levels of satisfaction.
Recent Research Advocating Exercise For Mental Health
Below are the key research findings from three recent studies that positively concluded the effectiveness of physical activity on mental health in general and various mental health conditions in particular. These studies were conducted by reputable institutions and published in respected journals, adding weight to their findings.
Exercise Over Medication
In a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers from the University of South Australia advocated for physical activity to be the primary way of managing depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. They even posited that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at managing these conditions than medications or counselling.
Here are a few salient points from the study:
You don’t need to be a pro athlete to reap the benefits of exercise for mental health. A short exercise can have a positive effect on your mental health.
All physical movements and exercises benefit the mind, including walking, resistance training, and yoga.
Higher-intensity exercise leads to more significant improvement in depression and anxiety as compared to longer-duration exercises.
Yoga and Exercise Combined
According to research published in Cureus: Journal of Medical Science, exercise benefits mental health. They concluded that physical activity had more favourable effects on persons with schizophrenia as compared to when there was no intervention. It also indicated that physical activity improved the quality of sleep and helped fight addictions by decreasing their cravings.
Physical Activity and Alcohol Dependence
The release of endorphins during exercise improves mood and can reduce the urge for addictive substances like alcohol. This reduction in craving, as a result, aids in the stability of mood and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
People are less likely, as a result, to use alcohol to relieve their anxiousness and depressive symptoms. Routine physical activity allows one to have a structured routine and a distraction from everything alcohol-related.
Physical Activity and Depressive and Anxiety Disorders
There is an imbalance of neurotransmitters in those suffering from depressive and anxiety disorders, and exercise helps regulate those. This relegation helps improve mood and reduce stress.
Lower cortisol levels from physical activity better manage the body’s stress response. This, in turn, leads to better sleep quality and pattern. Your self-esteem also grows as you exercise, helping counteract feelings of loneliness and hopelessness associated with depression and anxiety.
Mental Health of Scientific and Technological Professionals
A research study from China examined the effects of exercise on mental health among scientific and technological professionals. It showed that exercise’s positive effects on mental health are created through mediating pathways: stress, resilience, and social support.
The Mediating Effect of Stress
Exercise reduces stress by releasing endorphins and reducing the levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as cortisol.
The Mediating Effect of Resilience
Exercise gives you a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy, which enables you to cope better with stressors in your life.
The Mediating Effect of Social Support
Exercise has a social element, as you interact with others on the same fitness or healthy journey as you.
Mental Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking can boost your mental health and general well-being. It also aids in good mood and relieves symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. There is evidence to suggest that stopping smoking has the same effect on symptoms of anxiety and depression as that of taking antidepressants.
Letting go of your smoking habit can be especially difficult. But you can kick-start your smoke-free journey with a vape like Crystal pro max. It will take care of your nicotine cravings with a practically endless choice of flavours. If you fancy a sleeker, more convenient option, you can go for hayati pro vape, which comes pre-filled and pre-charged.
Exercise Alone is Not Enough
Exercise alone is insufficient in taking optimum care of your mental health and feeling your absolute best. If you are suffering from chronic mental health problems, the best course of action is to talk to a mental health practitioner.
You need to address the root causes and underlying conditions of your mental health issues, take recommended medications, and engage in regular physical activity for those problems to go away. Exercise will help you get there, but not all alone.
Wrapping Up
While you can experience the benefits of exercise on mental health first-hand, now there is a growing body of research advocating for a holistic approach to mental health. This approach involves counselling, medication and, even more importantly, regular exercise.
The post How Regular Exercise Affects Mental Health: Insights from Recent Studies appeared first on HR News.