How does exercise keeps you healthy

There are many views as to how exercise helps people with depression:. To maintain health and reduce your risk of health problems, health professionals and researchers recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. Increases in daily activity can come from small changes made throughout your day, such as walking or cycling instead of using the car, getting off a tram, train or bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way, or walking the children to school.

Pre-exercise screening is used to identify people with medical conditions that may put them at a higher risk of experiencing a health problem during physical activity. Print a copy of the adult pre-exercise screening tool PDF and discuss it with your doctor, allied health or exercise professional. Engaging in an individual physical activity to benefit only yourself, away from family or community, may be seen as inappropriate or selfish.

Aerobics injuries are usually caused by trauma and overuse, but can be prevented by using the right techniques and equipment.

Exercise can reduce some of the symptoms of arthritis, and improve joint mobility and strength. Exercise-induced asthma can be prevented with medication and by preparing for exercise and physical activity.

Australian rules football is a physical contact sport that often results in injuries from tackling, kicking, running and constant competition for the ball. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

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All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. A functional limitation is a loss of the ability to do everyday activities such as climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or playing with your grandchildren.

How does this relate to physical activity? Improve physical function and decrease the risk of falls. For older adults, multicomponent physical activity is important to improve physical function and decrease the risk of falls or injury from a fall.

Multicomponent physical activity is physical activity that includes more than one type of physical activity, such as aerobic, muscle strengthening, and balance training. Multicomponent physical activity can be done at home or in a community setting as part of a structured program. Science shows that physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers.

This is remarkable in two ways:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Physical Activity. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Benefits of Physical Activity. Minus Related Pages.

On This Page. Weight Management Looking to get to or stay at a healthy weight? Be Active: Every Bit Helps. Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Some Cancers Being physically active lowers your risk for developing several commonly occurring cancers.

Research shows that adults who participate in greater amounts of physical activity have reduced risks of developing cancers of the: Bladder Breast Colon proximal and distal Endometrium Esophagus adenocarcinoma Kidney Lung Stomach cardia and non-cardia adenocarcinoma Improve your quality of life. Strengthen Your Bones and Muscles.

To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address. Email Address. What's this? Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Related Topics. Help your body manage blood sugar and insulin levels. Exercise can lower your blood sugar level and help your insulin work better.

This can cut down your risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And if you already have one of those diseases, exercise can help you to manage it. Help you quit smoking. Exercise may make it easier to quit smoking by reducing your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

It can also help limit the weight you might gain when you stop smoking. Improve your mental health and mood. During exercise, your body releases chemicals that can improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed.

This can help you deal with stress and reduce your risk of depression. Help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. Exercise stimulates your body to release proteins and other chemicals that improve the structure and function of your brain.

Strengthen your bones and muscles. Regular exercise can help kids and teens build strong bones. Later in life, it can also slow the loss of bone density that comes with age. Doing muscle-strengthening activities can help you increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength. Reduce your risk of some cancers, including colon , breast , uterine , and lung cancer.

Reduce your risk of falls. For older adults, research shows that doing balance and muscle-strengthening activities in addition to moderate-intensity aerobic activity can help reduce your risk of falling. Improve your sleep. Exercise can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Improve your sexual health. Regular exercise may lower the risk of erectile dysfunction ED in men. For those who already have ED, exercise may help improve their sexual function.