We all aspire to have a better quality of life, but sometimes we tend to look for it in the wrong places. The sport will make a significant contribution to our quality of lifestyle. The COVID-19 pandemic means that many of us are staying at home and sitting down more than we usually do. It’s hard for a lot of us to do the sort of exercise we normally do. It’s even harder for people who don’t usually do a lot of physical exercise. It’s no secret that participating in sporting activities is good for us. It doesn’t matter the type of sport we play - we will certainly benefit from it Healthwise. We don’t have to play sports every day to benefit from it, getting involved in sports three times a week can be more beneficial than we could have anticipated.
The health benefits of sport and physical activity
The positive, direct effects of engaging in regular physical activity are particularly apparent in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis. For a majority of people, little physical effort is involved any more in their work, domestic chores, transportation and leisure. the fact remains that physical inactivity is a major risk factor for most common non-communicable diseases and physical activity can counteract many of the ill effects of inactivity.
A number of factors influence the way in which sport and physical activity impacts on health in different populations. Sport and physical activity in itself may not directly lead to benefits but, in combination with other factors, can promote healthy lifestyles. Elements that may be determinants on health include nutrition, intensity and type of physical activity, appropriate footwear and clothing, climate, injury, stress levels and sleep patterns.
The ways that exercise can improve our health:
1. Improved cardiovascular health.
2. Improved muscular strength and endurance.
3. Improved joint flexibility and range of motion.
4. Control cholesterol.
5. Reduced blood pressure.
6. Lowers risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
7. Helps manage weight.
8. Strengthens immune system.
9. Mental health benefits.
10. Stress relief.
When you add all of these benefits together, what do you get?
A longer, healthier, more enjoyable life!