Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality (6% of deaths according to the World Health Organization) and it is one of the main causes for several diseases such as breast and colon cancers, diabetes and ischaemic heart disease.
Studies have shown that physical activity does not only improve people’s quality of life in general, but also has significant benefits for health:
- It helps prevent chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and colon and breast cancer.
- It improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness.
- It helps reduce the risk of falling and, hence, of hip or vertebral fractures.
- It improves digestion.
- It helps maintain your weight.
- It reduces stress, depression, anxiety and improves your mood.
- It boosts energy, confidence and self-esteem.
- It improves quality of sleep.
Therefore, it is very important to do some regular physical activity in order to maintain both a healthy body and mind.
One important difference between “physical activity” and “sport” is that the first concept includes the latter, as physical activity is understood as any bodily movement produced by the skeletal muscles that uses energy. And so, apart from sport, it also includes exercise and other activities such as walking, doing housework, gardening or dancing.
Obviously, depending on an individual’s level of fitness, the intensity of physical activities varies. For instance, walking, dancing and doing housework are considered activities of moderate intensity, whereas running, fast cycling, swimming and moving heavy loads are considered to be vigorous physical activities.
Inactive people usually think of physical activity as something far from reachable. However, everybody can start gradually.
It is never too late to gain the benefits of physical activity!
Physical activity improves the chance of a living longer and healthier life. That is the reason why the experts from Canary Medical Key recommend you to start moving and keep fit. Where better than in the Canary Islands?