Exercise in Relation to Chronic Disease (cont.)
Lung diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and other conditions that decrease your ability to breathe. Physical activity can help increase the length of time you are able to do things (like walking), reduce your symptoms, and decrease the number of hospital visits. Swimming can be particularly helpful for those with chronic lung disease.
Here are the most common diseases that physical activity can help to eliminate or prevent:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Colon cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- Osteoarthritis
- Depression and anxiety
Strengthening exercises such as light weight-lifting and rowing may be helpful to prevent chronic illness, particularly for people who have become weakened or deconditioned from medications such as steroids. Regular physical activity can help a person with diabetes control the disease in several ways. Physical activity can control blood glucose levels, decrease the need for insulin, improve circulation, and help with weight loss. Hormones released during exercise can help to naturally elevate mood. Weight-bearing exercise keeps bones strong. These are but a few examples of maintaining a resilient body and a better state of mind through exercise, which all factor in to disease prevention through physical activity.