Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health

Exercise For Mental Health

Lifestyle changes may be a cost-effective method to enhance health and quality of life in this era of exponential expansion of the "metabolic syndrome" and obesity. Individuals suffering from severe mental illness may find that lifestyle changes are extremely important. Many of these people are predisposed to chronic diseases linked to sedentary behavior and prescription side effects, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. 1 Exercise is an important part of changing one's lifestyle. Patients and mental health experts alike do not fully understand or appreciate the value of exercise. Exercise appears to be an underutilized intervention in mental health care, according to evidence. See: 9 Best Tips To Weight Loss Success

Aerobic exercises including running, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing have been demonstrated to reduce anxiety and melancholy. 3 These mood benefits are thought to be mediated by an increase in blood circulation to the brain generated by exercise, as well as an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and, consequently, on the physiologic responsiveness to stress. 3 This physiological influence is most likely mediated by the HPA axis' contact with numerous brain regions, including the limbic system. The amygdala, which generates fear in reaction to stress; and the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory formation as well as mood and motivation.

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Distraction, self-efficacy, and social contact are some of the other possibilities hypothesized to explain the beneficial impacts of physical activity on mental health.  While structured group programs can be beneficial for people suffering from significant mental illnesses, lifestyle adjustments that emphasize the accumulation and increase of moderate-intensity movement throughout the day may be more suited for the majority of patients. 1 Interestingly, Adherence to physical exercise programs appears to be equivalent in psychiatric patients to that in the general population.

Exercise benefits mental health by decreasing anxiety, depression, and bad mood, as well as enhancing self-esteem and cognitive performance. Exercise has also been shown to help with symptoms including low self-esteem and social withdrawal.  Exercise is especially important in individuals with schizophrenia since these people are predisposed to obesity and because antipsychotic therapy, particularly atypical antipsychotics, carries an added risk of weight gain. Patients with schizophrenia who engaged in a 3-month physical conditioning program improved their weight control and reported increased fitness levels, exercise tolerance, and quality of life. decreased blood pressure improved felt energy, and increased upper body and handgrip strength For these health benefits, thirty minutes of moderate-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking three days a week, is sufficient. Furthermore, these 30 minutes do not have to be continuous; three 10-minute walks are seen to be just as beneficial as one 30-minute stroll.

The following are some of the health benefits of regular exercise that every mental health professional should emphasize and promote to their patients:

• Sleeping better

• heightened interest in sex

• increased endurance

• Stress reduction

• Mood improvement

• increased stamina and energy

• Reduced weariness, which can lead to increased mental alertness

• Loss of weight

• Lowering cholesterol and increasing cardiovascular fitness

Individuals suffering from major mental illness might thus benefit from effective, evidence-based physical activity programs provided by mental health service providers. More research is needed to determine the impact of integrating such therapies with established mental health treatments such as psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.