By Gabe Sanders PhD, NSCA-CSCS
Most people are aware that exercise is healthy for your body, heart, and brain. Regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases like Type II diabetes.
On the contrary, you should know that the cessation of exercise can negatively affect your health, and it does not take very long to lose all the positive health benefits that you netted once you stop exercising and being active.
Discontinuing an exercise program for a few days can begin to negatively change the way your body functions. Your blood profiles begin to change meaning that the cholesterol and fat content in your blood begin to change in a negative way. In fact, lack of exercise can significantly reduce blood flow in as little as ten days in some people.
Lack of blood flow to your brain is a big deal
Lack of blood flow to your brain is a big deal because your brain is responsible for a myriad of functions that are vital to your health and well-being.
In a recent study, researchers assessed how the cessation of exercise influenced blood flow ten days later. The authors of the study concluded that blood flow to the hippocampal regions of the brain was significantly reduced after ten days of inactivity in individuals who were avid exercisers.
This is interesting because the hippocampus is responsible, in part, for controlling our emotions and is even thought to be responsible for our long-term memory. It is also possible that the lack of blood flow in as little as ten days is why we feel lethargic, anxious, or even depressed when we undergo periods of time without exercise.
Exercise acts as a kick starter
Just remember, exercise acts as a kick starter for our bodies in that it ignites our cardiovascular system, which is a pump and pressure system. Pump and pressure systems work more efficiently and for longer periods of time when they are continually being used.
When the system is no longer used, it breaks down. The same is true for our heart and cardiovascular system. Daily exercise does not have to be so physically exhausting that you are sore the next day.
Walking at a good challenging pace, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house or working in the garden are all great physical activities that can ignite your pump and pressure system in a safe and effective way.
Next time when you find yourself skipping exercise or sitting around your house all day, think about how your heart and brain need exercise to kick start your pump and pressure system and how great you will feel once you complete your exercise or physical activity session.
*For more examples of exercises look under Multimedia-VDF Exercise Tips
**Consult with a physician and/or medical healthcare provider before starting any exercise regimen
Article’s Resources
Alfini AJ, Weiss LR, Leitner BP, et al. Hippocampal and Cerebral Blood Flow after Exercise Cessation in Master Athletes. Frontier in Aging Neuroscience. 2016; 8: 184.