We all know that activity and exercise are good for us. But do you know how bad for you not exercising can be? Well, here’s a guide to the true dangers of a sedentary lifestyle.
High Blood Pressure
If you spend your days sitting around and not partaking in physical activity, you’re much more likely to suffer from high blood pressure. Part of this is down to not working your body, and part of it is caused by the obesity usually found in people who lead very sedentary lifestyles. The risks attached to having raised blood pressure are vast.
The most dangerous of the risks associated with high blood pressure is strokes. When your blood pressure is high and has been for a number of years, your arteries can harden, and small blockages can develop in the brain. This in time will lead to you having a stroke. So, pay attention to your blood pressure and keep it down by staying active.
Anxiety and Depression
People who are physically inactive have a much higher likelihood of experiencing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The reasons for this are both physical and emotional. Staying active and doing exercise releases happiness-inducing hormones, lifting your mood and keeping you content.
That means if you stop doing exercise or never have done very much exercise, you’ll be missing out on these hormones that are vital to your happiness. There is also an emotional impact of being overweight and unfit. You can get stuck in a vicious circle of self-loathing that gets you nowhere and only makes you feel more depressed.
Weakened Muscles
Muscles aren’t just something that fit people and weightlifters use. We all have them, and we all use them. And those who do very little or no real physical activity will have weaker muscles than those who work out and take part in activity regularly. This can be a bigger problem than you might realize though.
This can be a big problem as you get older and find it more difficult to exercise much. Muscle can start to weaken, and the most simple daily activities can become more difficult to carry out. If this is starting to happen to you, you should use your Medicare insurance to see a doctor and put together a fitness plan with them.
Immune System
Your immune system is the thing that stops you getting lots of illness and infections, and if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, the health of your immune system will be weakened. Studies have found that people who do regular physical activity are much more likely to have strong immune systems.
This is a very important of the way your body works; a strong immune system will mean you’re able to fight off any diseases when they arise. It doesn’t matter if the illnesses are major or minor; your immune system plays a huge part in fighting them either way.
Now you know how damaging leading a sedentary lifestyle is, it’s time to get active and change the way you live!
