The physiological effects of exercise

After toddlers learn to walk, movement becomes very important for them. The variety of movement experiences make them happy. This changes later, and at school age unfortunately often an inactive lifestyle takes over from the former activity. We move less and less, even if regular physical activity has several positive physiological effects.

Coronary artery disease and hypertension can be reduced:
Increased physical activity reduces sympathetic nerve activity, and this causes the release of vasodilator substances.
Regular physical activity helps insulin operation in the body. Excercise helps prevent the formation of type-2 diabetes.

Physical activity gives feelings of happiness:
Regular exercise causes changes in breathing, in the excretory system, and hormonal and neurological changes also occur. The brain releases the hormone called endorphin and this creates the feeling of happiness. This feeling continues after exercise, even for some hours, and can reduce tiredness and pain. Endorphins also inhibit the stress response, and can reduce anxiety symptoms. For someone suffering from regular headaches, exercise considerably reduces the intensity and frequency of the attacks. Regular exercise can also have a positive impact on our mental health. It is good for our self-esteem and self-confidence. It improves our mood and helps to combat stress, and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Regular exercise brings a system into our everyday life:
Regular exercise increases endurance, faith in ourselves, our self-confidence, if done in a group it reduces isolation, and accelerates responses to external changes. If done outside in natural surroundings, it can cause even greater refreshment. It gives a system to everyday life, and improves mental performance. During exercise, our muscles get pleasantly tired and this facilitates a restful sleep. Children can use-up their “excess energy”. Movement develops coordination, and has a community-building role.

If possible, you should begin in childhood:

It is very important that we teach love for sports in early childhood. Physically active young people eat more healthily, they spend their free time in useful ways, are not overweight, they can stand stress better, are less anxious and mostly avoid entering into harmful habits. People who exercise regularly are more confident, establish friendships more easily, are satisfied with their appearance, and have better academic achievement than their peers, who are not physically active.