Surprising Benefits of Exercise
You have likely heard that it is important to exercise for good health. You may even recognise some of the effects on the body, such as a gain in strength and fitness, or feeling more confident in your body.
Have you ever been told about the benefits of exercise for mental illness, brain size, dementia and cancer risk, or even how it can benefit the economy? Today we share with you some of the, not so well known, benefits of exercise.
Exercise and mental illness
Although there is a well-known relationship between physical and mental health, exercise was once viewed as 'just' a distraction from negative thoughts. Exercise is now recognised as a research-backed, fundamental component of treatment alongside standard care for a range of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and eating disorders. Some of the benefits of regular exercise include:
Exercise-induced euphoria (you may have heard this term referred to as the "runners high").
Persistent anti-depressant and anxiety-reducing effect.
A reduction in symptoms of prescribed medication.
Improvement in sleep quality.
Improvement in mental attention and focus.
A reduction in future episodes of mental illness.
A reduction in physical conditions linked to mental illness.
*those diagnosed with mental illness are 2-3x more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and nearly 4x more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease when compared to those without mental illness.
Exercise and brain health
The results of brain imaging studies indicate that people engaging in regular physical activity have:
Reduced age-related brain shrinkage.
Increased brain volume in the frontal lobes (important for planning and concentration).
Increased brain volume in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory).
Increased brain blood flow.
Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF - a chemical important for the health and survival of nerve cells).
Up to 45% reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Up to 28% reduction in the risk of developing any type of dementia.
Exercise and cancer
The science suggests that exercise is one of the best medicines people with cancer can take in addition to their cancer treatments. Exercise has been found to:
Improve long-term survival rates (breast and colorectal cancer).
Improve chemotherapy completion rates.
Reduce hospitalisation duration.
Reduce cancer-related fatigue, pain and nausea.
Reduce the risk of long-term heart conditions (following radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy).
Minimise loss of bone strength (reducing the risk of fracture).
Reduce the risk of developing lymphedema (swelling).
Improve anaemia (red-blood cell deficiency).
Improved general immune function.
Reduce psychological and emotional stress related to diagnosis and treatment.
Regular exercise also decreases the risk of developing many cancers.
Exercise saves us all money
$5,938 per person to be exact! In 2016 it was determined that for every $1 an Australian (living with chronic disease) spent on engaging the services of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, they would receive benefits of $10.50. This resulted in a net benefit of $5,938 per person. These benefits were seen in:
Health system costs (reduced use of prescription drugs and doctor visits).
Work productivity (reduced sick leave and improved general productivity).
Well-being gains (through increased years of healthy life).