Obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes are primarily caused by unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity.
Almost 60% of Malaysian adults lead a sedentary lifestyle. By exercising regularly, you can improve your overall health and quality of life, as well as prevent the onset of various diseases.
Here are five of the most common conditions you can get rid of or prevent simply by incorporating workouts into your daily routine.
1. Cardiac diseases
Regular workouts, especially aerobic exercises, reduce your chances of heart disease, while strengthening your immune system and controlling your blood pressure, weight, mood, cholesterol, and energy levels.
Exercising also leads the heart to pump more blood throughout the body, which helps you to stay healthier overall.
2. Diabetes
Physical exercise has been associated with substantial improvement in insulin sensitivity, the hormone that allows cells in your body to use blood sugar for energy.
Regular workouts, therefore, play a part in controlling your blood sugar levels, which is especially important for diabetics and pre-diabetics.
3. Asthma
Regular exercise has been seen to be effective against asthma, which causes inflammation in an individual’s airways, by reducing inflammatory proteins.
However, if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, or chest tightness while working out, consult your doctor.
4. Back pain
The spine, along with the abdominal muscles, supports the facet joints, ligaments and vertebrae discs in your body. Exercising is a brilliant way to help with back, neck or spinal pain by correcting your posture and strengthening your muscles.
5. Joint pain
Exercise can also prevent joint pain from setting in. With regular workouts, your body parts will work more efficiently, preventing aches and overall soreness.
Feel good and stay well
Other diseases that can be prevented by exercising regularly include arthritis and dementia. Exercise also helps with mental health, lifting your mood and reducing anxiety as well as depression.
Your workout does not have to be strenuous; even walking, cycling or swimming for at least 30 minutes a day will work wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing.
Do stretching exercises whenever you can for improved flexibility and muscle strength. Also, make sure you follow a healthy diet, and get six to eight hours of sleep nightly.
Erika Peres is a social media influencer, entrepreneur and director of multiple companies. She is a mother of two boys and has a passion for sports, fitness and lifestyle. She can be reached on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.