No Time For Exercise?

In today’s hurried world, patients frequently will comment that they just don’t have the time to exercise.  Exercise is one activity investment that pays huge dividends.  For many people, aerobic fitness is often perceived to be something associated with countless hours pounding the highways and roadways in search of the elusive “runner’s high.”   Unfortunately, they are mistaken.

Aerobic fitness is an important component of physical fitness. When your muscles need oxygen, your aerobic (cardiovascular) system must be able to efficiently deliver it to them. When your body has waste products that need to be expelled (e.g. carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products), your body must also be able to come to the aid of your body.

The value and impact of aerobic fitness can extend your life. Research indicates that for every hour you spend exercising aerobically, you extend your life two hours. In anyone’s priority list, life and therefore aerobic exercise, has to be up in the top.

In addition to extending and improving the quality of your life, aerobic exercise also aids in relieving depression, preventing cancer and diabetes.  Studies have found that men and women who exercise are less likely to get colon cancer. Research has also suggested that women who do not exercise have more than two and one-half times the risk of developing cancer of the reproductive system and almost twice the chance of getting breast cancer.

Too stressed out for exercise?  Aerobic exercise relieves stress and anxiety. Exercise dissipates those hormones and other chemicals that build up during periods of high stress. Exercise also generates a period of substantial emotional and physical relaxation that sets in approximately an hour and a half after an intense workout.

Do not undertake an exercise program without checking with your doctor first.  Our Doctors of Chiropractic are trained in aiding you to develop an exercise program that is right for your body.  Before participating in exercise, you should learn the “rules” for developing aerobic fitness and implement them as an integral part of your regular conditioning routine. Similar to any of the critical tasks in your life, you need to consult with experts who can direct you to a systematic, ordered approach to ensuring that your body is in optimal shape. Quite simply, your health demands it, and your body deserves it!