Have you ever found yourself in a bad mood after sitting down all day? Perhaps your day job requires you to sit in front of a computer all day long. Regardless of the reason, sitting for too long may be bad for your mood. In fact, researchers have linked a sedentary lifestyle to depression and other mood disturbances. Read on to learn benefits of exercise and exactly how exercise might be the medicine you need for a better mood.
attractive fit woman in gym[/caption]
Another study looked at how sedentary behaviour affects the mental health of participants. Younger individuals involved in the study. This allowed researchers to point out that the mental effects of being sedentary can start early. All participants were between 14 and 15 years of age. A total of 9,702 participants were involved in the study.
The average person seems to be 43% more likely to develop depression when they are sedentary, compared to a person who participates in leisure-time physical activity. The risk of anxiety disorder symptoms is also increased by about 88% in people who are physically inactive.
Two girls training on the exercise machine in the gym.[/caption]
When we exercise, our bodies benefit in different ways. Exercise helps you burn through excess calories, which can lead to weight loss if you are overweight. While most people focus on the physical benefits associated with exercise, it is important not to overlook the role that physical activity plays in mental health.
Further research needed to help scientists understand how exactly exercise regulates mood, but it has been found that there are certain chemical reactions that occur in the brain.
One study explains that exercise leads to neuromodulation activity. In turn, this affects the production of hormones, neurotransmitters, and even certain amino acids. By having an impact on the production of these hormones and other chemicals, your mood may improve significantly. An imbalance in neurotransmitters and hormones has been shown to contribute to a negative mood, anxiety disorders, depression, and similar mental health problems.
Woman doing push-ups in the park with personal trainer[/caption]
In one study, researchers explore the relationship between the body’s cancer immunity and exercise. The paper reports a reduction in the risk of certain cancers associated with exercise. Furthermore, the same study shows that there is a reduced cancer relapse risk among patients who are physically active. The study also describes an enhanced immunity to cancer with the help of exercise - this can increase the chances of survival among affected patients.
Researchers report that the role that exercise plays in rehabilitation for cancer patients is also gaining relevance in the modern-day. More studies are looking at how exercise may be useful in helping patients cope with cancer, and reduce the progression of the disease.
Sedentary lifestyle (Remaining Seated or Inactive) And The Risk Of A Depressed Mood
Researchers in China analysed the mental health of 193,166 individuals. The participants were involved in a total of 24 previously conducted studies. Participants in the studies were from various regions of the world, including Asia, America, Europe, and Australia. It was found that there does seem to be a strong association between a sedentary lifestyle and depression. In fact, people who watched TV or sat in front of a computer for prolonged times during the day were 25% more likely to develop depression. These results were compared to people who were more physically active during their daily routine. [caption id="attachment_3092" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
How Exercise May Improve Your Mood
There are several benefits that physical activity offers your body. In fact, physical exercise is a critical part of maintaining a healthy body. [caption id="attachment_8857" align="alignnone" width="2000"]
How Exercise is Related to Mood
A research paper in the MDPI Brain Sciences Journal explains that exercise and mood are related due to the Monoamine Connection. There are several effects that exercise has that enhance the overall function of the brain. In fact, the paper points out that exercise assists in the management of neuroinflammation, and even promotes antioxidation in the brain.Benefits of Exercise on Overall Health
Exercise Effects On Neurotransmitters
There are also certain neurotrophic factors, as well as neurotransmitters, that change when you participate in the exercise. These particularly include:- Noradrenaline
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
Exercise Effects On Sleep
The average person sleeps for about 6.8 hours each night. Recent researcher reveals about 35% of the adult population fails to sleep enough each day. Without an appropriate amount of sleep, the body can suffer from several health problems. Sleep deficiency is known to cause irritability, increase the likeliness of depression, and lead to other mental and mood problems. Exercise has been shown to provide an improvement in sleep. With this in mind, restoration of adequate quality sleep through exercise may yield an improvement in mood through this particular mechanism too.Other Ways That Exercise Relates To Mood
Exercising outside is a more beneficial option. This allows you to connect with other people while exercising – another factor that shows to be critical in the regulation of mood. Other ways that exercise may improve your mood include the boost in self-esteem and self-confidence that you may experience in the process. Apart from these, it is important to realize that exercise is beneficial for preventing certain diseases. Among individuals with existing diseases, exercise may be helpful. [caption id="attachment_8858" align="alignnone" width="2000"]
Leave a Comment