Link between lack of exercise and poor mental health condition
Mental health has never been a more serious topic in the UK to discuss than it is today. People now understand the importance of mental health and are looking for various ways to rejuvenate it. Gone are the days when mental health discussions were considered taboo. In the UK, people consult doctors and experts for treatment of their mental health issues, and it has become the new normal. However, what if we can just avoid that heavy intake of medication and just make changes in our lifestyle to improve mental health, such as exercising? Yes, you read it right. Regular exercise can not only keep you physically fit but also greatly benefit your mental health.
In fact, exercising in some form every day is one of the most important ways to maintain cognitive fitness in the short and long term. According to research, regular exercise is associated with improved mental health, specifically lowering anxiety and depression. Research has also proved that even just 30 minutes of exercise can improve thinking skills, information processing, brain cell growth and resilience, stress management, memory, and academic performance, as well as help prevent or manage mental illness and neurodegenerative disorders. A lack of exercise can also bring down mental health.
Why is mental health important in the UK?
Mental health is a broad concept that encompasses emotional, social, and psychological well-being. It affects and determines so many essential aspects of our lives, such as what we think, how we feel, how we conduct ourselves toward others, and how we make choices. Mental health is crucial at every stage of life, especially during childhood and adolescence. Some of the most common factors that contribute to impaired mental health are a history of mental health problems in the family and traumatic life experiences, but they can also be biological. Regular exercise can improve mental health and thus help individuals live happily.
How does a lack of exercise affect mental health?
Regular exercise may help relieve depression and anxiety by releasing feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals (endogenous cannabinoids), and other natural brain chemicals that can improve your mood. Exercise can improve mental health in many ways, including:
1. No happy hormones:
Exercise of any kind has a positive impact on mental health. When a person works out, hormones are released into the bloodstream to alleviate the physical discomfort associated with working out. The hormones in charge are endorphin and serotonin, also known as "the happy hormones." This is the body's natural way of making itself feel better. Exercising can also help you get out of the four walls of your house and help you interact with other people, which can help you maintain positive mental health.
2. You can not think clearly:
The muscular system helps to pump blood back to our hearts. This is especially important in the lower extremities, where gravity makes it difficult for blood to return to the heart. This is how exercise can benefit your mental health by pumping more blood into your brain and allowing you to think more clearly. Exercise can affect the size of your hippocampus, which is a part of your brain where memories are stored. Exercise also strengthens the connections between nerve cells in the brain, which promotes better memory.
3. Anxiety:
One of the most common mental health issues nowadays is anxiety, which ranges from mild to severe. Over 8 million people in the UK suffer from an anxiety disorder at any given time (Mental Health UK). According to the Mental Health Foundation, less than half of people with generalised anxiety disorder receive treatment. Exercise can increase both physical and mental energy. As mentioned in the previous point, one aspect of this is the release of happy hormones. Another benefit of running is that it helps you be more mindful, such as by focusing on your pace instead of zoning out. Outdoor exercise can help a person become more mindful, which can help with anxiety. In some cases, exercise can even reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.
4. Depression:
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, affecting around 1 in 6 adults in the UK. Research shows women are more likely to experience depression than men. Depression rates in the UK are still significantly higher than before the pandemic. In the summer of 2021, approximately 17% of adults in the UK experienced depression, compared to 10% prior to the pandemic.
Many studies show that getting enough exercise has the same effect as antidepressant medication but with fewer side effects. You just need to take a 10-minute walk daily to reduce nearly 75% of the symptoms of depression. Exercise can also reduce inflammation, which can sometimes be related to depression.
5. No stress relief:
Lack of regular exercise will make us feel stressed. As a result, regular exercise can help you cope with the stress that comes from a fast-paced world, social media, and frequently problematic work situations. People simply get to blow off their stress by burning some calories. Thus, the more vigorous the exercise, the more effective the benefits. Moreover, working out is the best way to zone out the mind that is causing stress and use that negative energy to relax and become calmer in the long run.
6. Reduce focus and concentration:
Lack of exercise will make an individual drowsy and lethargic. This will slow down our daily activities and cause us to lag behind in our work. Exercise will immediately boost the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels, all of which affect focus and attention.
7. Reduced overall quality of life:
Lack of exercise will reduce the person's quality of life. Regular exercise and physical activity promote strong muscles and bones. It improves respiratory, cardiovascular, and overall health. Staying active can also help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and lower your risk of some cancers.
In a nutshell, mental health is one of the crucial aspects of an overall healthy and increased quality of life in the UK. Therefore, the need for regular exercise becomes one of the most vital aspects of our lives.
Nurses Group Homecare is the best care provider in Yeovil, UK. We understand the importance of regular exercise, and thus our staff ensures that our clients are engaged in some sort of exercise to maintain both their mental and physical health. To learn more about what we offer, visit our care services page.