Sedentary lifestyle has repercussions not only at the physical level, but also for the brain. However, we will examine what to do to permanently defeat the risks of sedentary lifestyle.
Inactivity, not exercising, reading or training, in short, not moving, is detrimental to overall health. This has been known for years. However, in this article we will specifically introduce you to the risks of sedentary lifestyle for your brain.
We live in an age where physical activity occupies a secondary place in our lives . Many occupations at work imply that we are sitting long hours, and we move in our daily lives through vehicles, without walking.
Sedentary lifestyle changes the structure of the nervous system
The nervous system is not a static structure, but a dynamic one . New synapses are continually created, modified, others removed. However, the changes that are promoted with inactivity are not exactly good, and that is one of the biggest risks of sedentary lifestyle.
In a research carried out in 2014 by Mischel and collaborators from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the specific changes that occur in the brain, the result of sedentary lifestyle, were found with precision.
The researchers selected two groups of rats. One of them moved and exercised regularly. Another, no. After 3 months, they found physical changes in the structure of the brains of sedentary rats:
- An excessive number of additional ramifications in neurons that overstimulated the nervous system, speeding up the heart rate and predisposing to hypertension .
- Inactivity led the sympathetic nervous system to fail to regulate peripheral vasoconstriction, which also predisposes to hypertension and heart disease.
Other scientific research has found that sedentary lifestyle weakens memory and learning ability, as well as predisposes to neurodegenerative diseases .
How to avoid the risks of sedentary lifestyle for your brain?
Exercising improves physical and mental health
Thomas Stephens, in research published in Preventive Medicine , showed that moderate exercise improves mental health, especially in those with stress , anxiety and depression disorders. In addition, the results of their study yielded data that pointed to records of:
- Improved mood
- Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Increased physical well-being
- Significant increase in quality of life, especially in women and in the rest of the population over 40
The conclusion is clear: the best way to avoid chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases, is through exercise. In fact, a simple daily walk is enough to avoid many problems. That, yes, the exercise has to be moderate and progressive.
The dream is fundamental
It is known that one of the risks of sedentary lifestyle lies in the elimination of activity routines and a disorder in schedules, which results in poor quality of sleep. And of course, this only exacerbates the problem.
If we do not sleep well, we will be in a worse mood and suffer from greater emotional instability. Our attention and our memory will be greatly affected by reducing the rest time.
On the contrary, doing a little exercise improves the quality of sleep and favors it to be restorative . It is not surprising that one of the fundamental supports in the treatment of insomnia is exercising.
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Exercise avoids the risks of sedentary lifestyle and improves mood
That's right, exercise helps combat anxiety symptoms , so it also helps you to be calmer and more relaxed at bedtime. Sport increases self-esteem, self-confidence and promotes social exchange.
In summary, the risks of sedentary lifestyle for your brain and your physique have been demonstrated. Therefore, it is in your hands to combat them with some exercise and stimulation for your neurons, such as outdoor activities, visiting museums, or having a conversation with someone with whom you are walking or jogging .
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