Exercise (walking) is a powerful medicine for daily life. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Transcript: As Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician often referred to as the “Father of Western Medicine”, wisely stated, “Walking is man’s best medicine.”
His timeless advice still holds today. Walking is a simple yet powerful activity that can significantly impact our health and longevity.
Let us explore today how
simple daily brisk walking contributes to a longer, healthier life.
Daily physical activity can be the most effective remedy for leading healthy and fulfilling lives without relying on medications or supplements.
It is a potent medicine that helps our physical and mental well-being. Let’s delve into why it is frequently regarded as the best prescription.
How does walking reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke?
When you exercise like a daily walk, your heart rate increases significantly. This causes your heart to work harder to pump more oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body.
As we age, our risk of developing heart disease increases. The heart muscles can weaken with time, particularly if you don’t lead an active lifestyle.
Insufficient physical exercise is a significant contributing factor to heart disease. However, exercising more can reduce risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. Even if you already have heart disease, exercise can help you manage your condition.
How does physical inactivity increase the risk of heart disease? Being inactive can lead to fatty material building up in your coronary arteries and result in clogging, leading to a heart attack.
Let’s talk about Diabetes prevention. Physical activity helps regulate blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity.
The current thought is that exercise and lifestyle modifications could increase insulin sensitivity among people with diabetes without medication.
Now, we know that obesity is the gateway to most diseases. Exercise aids in weight loss and maintains a healthy weight, resulting in a lower chance of chronic illnesses.
Daily exercise is now known to prevent some forms of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention, getting more physical activity is associated with a lower risk for several types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon, endometrium, and possibly pancreatic cancer.
Exercise is known to boost your immunity. Physical activity promotes the movement of the immune system via white blood cells to more locations where viruses and bacteria can be identified.
Exercise gets the immune cells moving throughout the body during activity and promotes a lasting presence of these immune cells for up to three hours after exercise. This provides extra time for the immune cells to identify unwanted intruders and keep you from getting sick.
Consistent exercise brings more time for immune cells to patrol the body for bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it’s beneficial to get into a routine of moving your body rather than exercising just occasionally.
Regular exercise seems to delay ageing and prolong longevity. As we age, cellular damage accumulates due to inflammation and oxidative stress.
Exercise helps counteract the process.
Other benefits of daily walking include strengthening bones, improving brain function, and possibly preventing Alzheimer’s.
It also relieves stress and promotes relaxation.
The cumulative benefits of exercise. Those who exercise for over 30 years, such as walking regularly, have significantly better outcomes than those who give it up after a decade.
Walking enhances balance and coordination among seniors, reducing the likelihood of falls. It also maintains flexible joints, improves mood, and reduces anxiety and depression.
Regular walking leads to higher energy levels and improved stamina
So remember, whether it’s a stroll or a brisk walk, that every step counts towards better health.
I hope this video article was useful until we meet again; goodbye for now.
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